The Smallest Pilot

Prolog

(I do not, have not, and never shall own Gundam Wing)

James and Jessica Smith were planning on having a baby rather soon. Since the doctors all said that she was to have one. However, the tiny amount of change in the stomach, or her appetite, concerned them. So much so that she had gone to get an ultrasound done earlier than most. The results came back, and with startling news... Her child was the smallest the medical world had ever seen. She looked at her child's pictures again, it was barely a speck on the paper, but it was there, all right. Jessica looked up at her husband, "He's going to be so small, James, how'll we ever take care of him?",

"Don't worry, love, we will, we will.", James reassured her.

....

When he was born, their child was barely bigger than her small pinky's nail, but he was as healthy and full of energy as any other baby would be. He was named Timothy, but everyone just called the child Little One, for he was so small. All the nurses cooed, over the tiny infant constantly, and soon, they were ready to go home. At first, Tim was even too small to drink his formula, so they used string and dripped it gently down into the child's mouth. But, day by day he grew enough by his size, and soon was walking on his own, and even beginning to speak words. That's when his father was forced to go to war against the Earth. Just as the plane took off, it was attacked, and blew up, Jessica being very afraid for her husband's life, lay the child down in a box, "Now, my Little One, stay put, Mommy'll be away for only a second.", she cooed, before running into a mob, which soon was fired upon by soldiers from the Earth itself.

....

It was another, older child later that night, who in scrounging around for food, found Tim inside that same box, at first, he didn't believe it, until the child walked over, and held up grasping hands.... "Okay, then, little guy, I guess I can... Take you along with me.", the other said, "Solo mightin' not mind you since yer's such a tiny fella, eh?", with that, he scooped Tim up into his hand, and ran off for the orphan's home, which was just a run- down abandoned building.

....

"What da ya want, Chris? I'm busy.", the group's leader, Solo replied.

"I think I found a new person for the group, Solo. Here, take a look.", Chris held out his hand at Solo.

The other peered carefully into the other's hands, and saw the child, who looked barely over two, sitting, and blowing spit bubbles. When Solo looked at him, the kid looked back up, his eyes full of wonder, and delight as he tilted his head back. "That just might be the smallest kid I've ever seen in my life.", Solo remarked, picking him up carefully in his hand, "Hi there, little guy...",

"Mama brrrrrrrwwwwwaaaaa!", the little person squealed with delight.

"I think he'll be handy with us, I'll just call you Little Guy, okay?", Solo said.

....

It took Little Guy a while before he was able to start doing his part for the gang. And that's what Solo was having him do right now. Solo had bopped him into some lady's pocket, and it wasn't long before Little Guy came back with money the size of blankets to him clutched tightly to his body. "Hey, looks like you got some, let's take a count, okay?", Solo asked him.

"Kay!", the small kid replied.

"Looks like enough for a few loaves of hot bread, and some cheese...", Solo said, "Good job, buddy, you got us some dinner tonight.",

....

It was later that night that Solo caught a sickness, it was deadly as well... He turned to Chris, "Little Guy's gonna be the leader of this group after I'm dead, but, I want you to be his second in charge, teach him what he needs ta know, okay?", Solo asked.

"Yes, Solo.", Chris nodded sadly.

"Solo, no go....", Little Guy said, quietly from Chris's pocket.

"I'm sorry, kid, I can't.", Solo spoke.

"I sorry, Solo, I be good, don't go bye- bye....", he begged.

"Come on, let's give him some quiet.", Chris said, walking off, "Little Guy.",

"I not little... I wanna be called Duo now!", he said, folding his arms.

....

So, he was called Duo, and he led the gang of war orphans pretty well, until the day the citizens fought back. They sent all six of the children to a church, and so, Duo, being about half the size of any kids thumb back then, was being carried by Chris. "Father Maxwell, the orphans are all here.", one Sister called.

"Yes, Helen, I can see that.", the Father replied, "Get them some fresh clothing, clean them up, and trim their hair.",

"Yes Father.", Sister Helen replied, "Now, there's five of you so....",

"Don't forget Duo, ma'am.", Chris reminded.

"Well, were is he?", the Sister asked.

"Right here.", Chris said, he held up his hand to her.

Duo sat there, and looked up a little startled by the person looking down on him. "Oh, dear....", she muttered, "Father, we have a problem, come look.",

"What is it, Sister?", Father Maxwell asked, appearing from around the corner.

"This boy, look at how...", she stopped short of saying small.

"Oh, my word, well if God didn't put a tinier person on this earth....", the Father said, in a hushed tone, "How long has he been like this?",

"All my life, and there's nothing wrong with it.", Duo answered, "I can do anything any of these guys can, and more.",

"We're not saying you can't, it's just that....", Sister Helen began.

"It's just like you people who've lived like you have with all your needs fulfilled to judge people by the way they look.", Chris pointed out, "He's not kidding when he says he can do anything we can.",

"Oh, my.", the Sister muttered, "Where'd he get his clothing then?",

"He made them himself.", another orphan responded.

"I see.", the Father answered, "Well, then, Sister Helen will just have to make new ones for you.",

"She ain't cutting my hair though.", Duo said, "With my luck lately, she'd decapitate me with the scissors.",

"Very well, then, Sister, comb, and braid his.", the Father instructed.

"Yes, Father.", Sister replied.

....

And so, Duo came to live with Father Maxwell, and Sister Helen in the church, however, no one wanted a son that was smaller then their hand. Soon, the two lost hope that Duo would ever find a family of his own, they adapted to having him stay with them. He had to be rather careful though, for the church was a busy place on Sundays, and even on the week- days, it was as well. He was amazing for the size that he was, and could write, even though you'd need a magnifying glass to see it. He was even able to get around on his own pretty much. When something was lost, it was usually Duo that found it. He was the happiest, and kindest person you'd ever see, and unlike the other orphans, which had all left to new families by now, Duo was educated. He told them how he'd managed to learn what he knew by slipping under a school's doors, and sit, unnoticed in a corner, or in the coat rack. The day that the church was destroyed, Duo had gone for a walk out to the garden, and so, Sister Helen, and Father Maxwell died. Later that day, Duo hitched a ride to the shuttle port, and snuck aboard a space shuttle, it landed on the moon, before taking off again, this time, heading for someplace else. That's when he was caught, by a cage, mainly meant for rats. Then he entered, his hair looked like a mushroom, and his age showed largely. "So, what do we have here, a little punk snuck aboard?", the man asked.

"Leave me alone, we all need to eat at some point you know, but I won't eat rat's poison.", Duo retorted.

"Well, then, you can have something to eat if you do your share around here.", the man sneered, "Come along.",

With that he picked up the cage, and carried Duo to another part of the shuttle, it held an enormous robot like thing, a mobile suit. "Tell me, what do you think?", the man asked.

"There's numerous cracks that must have happened during transport, a dent, some wires that are not fully connected, I could pilot this, if it had a cockpit that was small enough for me.", Duo remarked, a smart ass grin on his face.

"Well then, you will.", the man stated, so, it was decided.

....

When Duo was fifteen years of age, he fell to the earth in a shuttle made for him, and his gundam, because he didn't take up much space, though, there was more room for weapons, and supplies for repair jobs.

End Prolog