Chapter 3- locked up.

Quatre focused his gaze on the steal door with the small barred window once more, since the only trace of light his eyes could see was shining through the bars. The door was large, bolted…combinations..codes probably needed to get in. To get out..

He wondered semiconsciously if there was the smallest chance in the world that it could open if he concentrated on it hard enough. He recalled wryly the famous quote in Star Wars, "May the Force be with you…" Well he was trained to be a Gundamn Pilot. Surely he had to be capable of at least attempting to break down doors, shouldn't he? Quatre glanced up at his wrists which were firmly locked above his head in an agonizing position.

May the force be with you….a cocky positive voice tried on in his crazed head.

…No that was silly. It would take a miracle to get of these chains.

Quatre was shaken out of his own private world only to be rudely awakened by the sound of a gruff obnoxious voice.

"It was the damn door… in sector C …..you stupid-STUPID...braided fool." This came from the very disgruntled, very pissed chinese, as predicted and he had repeated this statement about 30 times in 30 different ways- which would be truly funny to comprehend had they not been in a situation as serious as this one.

The result of his anger was a moan from Duo as something hard was thrown and targeted at his head. Probably an old bolt or nut.

Duo suddenly growled. Generally he was fairly good natured, even when the going got rough. Tonight however, must've been different for him.

"God, for the billionth time I shut the door Wufei! Give it a break will you?" Duo whined rubbing his head with his braid affectionately.

Wu-fei chuckled in a sort of crazed and beyond all reason pissed sort of way..

"Give it a break. GIVE it a break.. Well you know what?- I'll GIVE-IT-A-BREAK when you get us out of this filthy damn cell!! How does that sound?" He yelled, his voice echoed and bounced off of the walls of the dark smelly room making everyone want to cover their ears.

Quatre sighed with his head lowered to his chest, his legs which had been spread, now bent towards him as he sat against the wall.

"Please just stop. Both of you. You are wasting your breath. Now is not the time to argue. We need to conjure up some ideas... An escape plan." He said straining his voice because of all the stress. He looked to the corner where Trowa and Heero both sat silent and mysterious as usual.

"Trowa, Heero.. Any ideas?"

Trowas one visible eye was dull when he met the blondes gaze, and Quatre could tell he thought they were pretty much S.O.L. Heeros response was not much better, his expression to Quatre was clearly a if-you-want-to-get-out-of-here-you'll-shut-up-until-I'm-done-thinking look.

Quatre had a feeling though…that deep down even Heero knew there would not be an escape route. No untouched blueprint that they knew of and the their enemies did not. No back-up-plan. No way out.

Not this time.

Quatre rolled his gaze up towards the ceiling, through the many layers of material he was quite sure were cement. Outside the enemy base and up into the sky the bright stars were surely shining. He had seen them when they had taken flight for the mission from the hanger, they were barely coming out and the sun had been a muave blur in the gray and purple clouds. The night had been young, and now it was probably into the early hours of the next day. But he imagined them to be out still, each bright little speck shining vividly and clear in his mind. Hopeless, exhausted and miserable he made a wish.

Dear Allah, send us a miracle. Get us out of this place..

Closing his Arabian blue eyes, his platinum blonde hair dancing low into his face, he waited. And prayed that small prayer.

But nothing came.

He blinked. The one chance that there even was a God interested enough to listen to him now seemed about as likely as….

….As likely as Heero declining a mission.

Very…very unlikely.

He supressed a dark laugh and sighed.

And just as soon as that ounce of breath was released from his body.. was his miracle being heard. The door opened and a new shadow was thrown in amongst them.

The two sector guards, a.k.a.- arrogant tweedle dee and stupid tweedle dumb were still on shift and looking tired and annoyed as ever.

"Go get the shackles." Guard one said, observing the figure that was thrown into a dark corner. Quatre couldn't make out if the person was conscious. Probably not.

"Wait till she's awake. She might not even need them…when we're done with her." chuckled guard two.

While doing their hourly check on them, Quatre had almost been successful in stealing the keys to the shackles that were locked around their ankles and wrists from the second guard. Gaurd one however, Quatre painfully figured out was a little more tight on the upchuck than he expected.

"Fine." Guard one replied, and while walking towards the door he stopped and slapped Quatre lightly in the face twice.

"Hanging in there?" He asked smiling with sarcastic sympathy. Quatres control snapped.

"Fuck you."

The outburst was something no one would ever expect from someone like him..In fact it was only the second time in his life he had ever been angry and reckless enough to say it.

Quatre braced himself just in time when a foot came flying into his stomach. Pain caused him to cough.That was the fifth time he had been picked on in one night. Duo three times, Wufei once and Trowa and Heero none. The guards seemed to have been intimidated by their silence.

Quatre leaned forward, his body naturally trying to roll over to recoil in pain. And with that they left laughing abrasively.

As soon as the bolt on the door was locked with a loud grind, Wufei cursed.

"That was stupid of you to say." He sighed sadly though.

"But it was injustice nonetheless. They have no honor, the pathetic dogs." He said disgusted. Quatre coughed lightly and groaned.

"You okay?" Duo asked sympathetically.

Quatre nodded, he didn't have much will to speak at the moment and he hoped Duo could see that.

He had because he didn't ask again.

"I wonder who our new friend is." Duo said quietly to no one in particular, straining his body to get as best a view of the new prisoner as possible. After awhile he whistled.

"Yup, it's a chick alright…a babe too." Everyone ignored the joke.

Quatre took deep breaths and cleared his throat from it's dryness. His stomach twisted nastily and he instantly regretted ever mouthing off to the guard in the first place. He was sure he would vomit. And with no way to clean himself up he would have to sit there in his own muck unable to do anything. The thought stung him. But he ignored it.

"Is she hurt?" He asked trying to focus on something else- anything else so he wouldn't fall unconscious..

He had no idea what side this girl was fighting for…but he couldn't help feeling sorry for her, someone unfortunate enough to be captured by an enemy as cruel and unmerciful as this one. Especially since she was female. He had heard of all of the unspeakable deeds the guards and officers had committed to their female captives ..it made Quatre cringe in disgust causing him to become even more sick than he already was. He couldn't bare to think of it so he pushed the thoughts from his mind immediately. Duo hesitated for a second.

"Dammit..I can't tell.." He sighed.

"It's too dark."

"Mmuuh…" The girl suddenly groaned rolling onto her back. She had awakened.

Well it won't take long to find out then. Quatre thought waiting as the girl in the shadows came to her senses.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVV Hotaru POV VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

I groaned and I couldn't help it.

I felt…like shit. Total. Absolute. Shit.

Was this the price for me having the chance to still be able to win my scoutship back?

Or was it just punishment for being Hotaru Tomoe?…hmm.

Had Setsuna done this to me on purpose? Wait…What did she do..where am I..

What the….

I hoisted myself up onto my elbows and was relieved when I could feel that the heaviness leave my body and the pain was already subsiding.

Must be the after affects.. I thought dryly.

Then suddenly I was enshrouded with visions..little clips and images and information of my whereabouts. Trees. Lots of trees. Lights, a base..

An extremely ugly man grinning wolfishly in a dark uniform. Yikes... Another one with keys…who was surprisingly even more hideous. His hair was greasy and red.

"Gross.." I mumbled.

"What?" Someone asked.

That wasn't a vision. That was for real.

I sat up and saw that the cell I saw in the vision was actually the one I was sitting in. I looked around, my eyes having to refocus to the extreme dark. There were five teenage boys on the other side of the room. Locked up in chains.

I was overjoyed when I looked down and found that I hadn't been tied up like them.

They were all staring at me so I cleared my throat.

The whole situation seemed to add up now, looking at them.

" Hey, anyone know where the uglies went?" I asked, and the one nearest to me laughed a little.

"The guards? They left. They'll be back in an hour."

"Uh-huh.." I said slowly, calculating.

"Are you okay?" The guy asked. I noticed he had long hair pulled into a low set braid that lay on his shoulder.He was cute.

"Yeah..I could be better though." I said with a smile. I got up and stretched.

"So what are you guys in for?" I asked covering a yawn as though I had just gotten out of bed.

"None of your business." A voice hissed. I turned in the direction of where the cold voice had come from. The boy looked at me with dark cold eyes, his glare almost causing me to shiver. What a creep was my first thought.

" Wow. I think someone needs a nap." I admonished and the first guy laughed again.

"You know you're pretty easy going for someone who's about to die. What's your name?" He asked suddenly sad..

I ran my hands through my hair, Ami's gift of brilliance already working it's magic as a plan matriculated quickly in my mind.

" Tomoe. Hotaru Tomoe. And I'm not going to die. Not tonight."

" I'm Duo Maxwell.I may run I may hide but I never tell a lie! What makes you so sure about not dieing?" He asked curiously and somewhat sympathetically. He didn't believe I had the slightest idea of what I was talking about. He probably felt bad for me. I'll show him….

A boy towards the lighter part of the room, oriental by the looks of it, hissed in annoyance.

"You stupid braided baka! Now she knows how to track you! Don't you think? Ever?" He yelled loud and annoyingly. The boy known as Duo snorted.

"And what makes you think we're EVER going to come out of this place alive?" Duo hissed in reply.

He sighed and kicked something across the room hopelessly.

" We're good as dead." He whispered quietly,

"Might as well talk while you can."

"Don't say that," another one said. This time it was a blonde in the front of the room where I could fully make him out.

He was stunning to say the least. His platinum blonde hair was layered and well kept, despite all the dirt.

He had blue eyes. Big blue eyes. And long eyelashes. A very youthful look.

Poor thing. I thought as he gazed sadly up at me.

He looked as if he had been having a hard time. None of the others looked to be in pain but him. His arms were locked stiffly above his head.

"It's good that you still have hope. Because I have a really good idea." I assured him.

The Chinese snorted loudly. Again.

"Oh yes, don't tell me-don't tell me- it's the door isn't it? You're going to wait until they come and then just slip out through the door right? Hah! What a joke."

Woah…this guy is rude.

He laughed some more and I could already feel that tinge of irritation I knew I would probably have for him. I raised an eye brow at him sardonically.

"Yes…something like that. Only I was going to get the keys and release all of you. However I might reconsider and just take four of you instead."

He rolled his eyes and mumbled something about injustice and what not and I paid no more attention to him.

"Don't mind Wu-fei," Duo told me with a grin,

" He's just not a happy camper today."

I nodded returning the grin.

"Yeah I can see that."

The blonde cleared his throat.

"I am Quatre." When I met his eyes he tilted his head to the left, his gaze remaining on me.

"That's Trowa. And Heero. We were all captured for assassination on enemy lines ." He said simply.

"Oh.."

Trowa was the one in the furthest corner, in the dark I could only see his face. One magnificent green eye was visible through long oddly styled hair. Heero was the one who was in need of the nap, with a permanent frown plastered on his handsome face.

" Well sorry…but it's not very nice to meet you. Not in here anyway, " I laughed and Quatre surprisingly smiled at me.

"The same with us miss..Tomoe."

"It's just Hotaru. No need for polite sir names."

I walked over to the door. Tapped it's hinges a few times. They weren't old. The cell was but the door must've been replaced multiple times. hmm..

I did this for a while then eventually I started banging the door and kicking it. The bang echoed all around the room.

"Stop making noise onna! What- do you want them to come?" Wu-fei growled angrily. I twitched.

"What did you just call me?" I asked threateningly but there was no time for him to reply. We all heard the footsteps coming. I smirked. Time to work some magic.

If this doesn't work I don't know what will…

Quatre stared contently at the pretty girl before him. She was young, with shoulder length dark hair and dark placid eyes. It was nice to meet someone so good natured before he died. Duos enthusiastic spark had seemed to flicker and die out by the time they had gotten here. She seemed to bring this aura about her, like nothing was all as bad as it seemed. He liked it. It made him feel slightly less uncomfortable… less afraid of…going away.

He was only 19 years old and yet being in this cell had just made him feel like he was 90.

But was there still a chance? Was there really a way out? This girl couldn't possibly have a trick up her sleeve that none of them hadn't thought of before… could she?

Footsteps. They were coming.

If you lash out again Quatre they may hurt her. Keep yourself under control. Don't say a thing.

Hotaru glanced back at them from the entrance of the room and put a finger to her lips.

"Sleep." She whispered. They understood. As Quatre closed his eyes and pretended to sleep he wondered if the others had followed suite.

It was possible that whatever she was thinking could work…He made himself believe it.

Anything is possible. Even now. He repeated the thought over and over in his head until the light through the door that he had felt on his face disappeared obviously meaning someone was standing in the way of it.

"Yoo hoo!" Hotaru sang. The pilots slanted their eyes open barely so they could see.

The guard looked confused as she waved at him and came closer to the window.

"Hey you have any water around here, sugar? I'm parched.." She said fingering the bars with seductive slow motion strokes. Quatre noticed the slight change of accent in her voice. Like an American Southerns…

"N..no…sorry little miss." He said gruffly. Another set of footsteps.

"Who's that? Oi! Why the hell are you talking to one of the prisoners!-"

And then he was bumped out of the way by another guard who appeared at the window angrily.

"What do you want bitch? You want us to lock you up? Huh?" He said trying to sound threatening but he only to come out looking stupid. Hotaru wrapped her fingers around two bars and pushed her face up through the gap. She pouted.

"If you'll give me some water, honey, you can tie me up wherever you want." She murmured seductively. Quatre found himself holding his breath.

Of course . He would have never ever thought of that…because he would've never done it..

The guards expression changed from confused, to thinking..to business. He licked his lips using one finger to stroke her jaw line.

" 7 minutes of you, for each of us." He nodded toward his partner who was grinning with lust.

" One glass of water. Deal?"

"You got it baby."

"Wait Fred, what about them?" Guard two asked pointing his head towards the boys.

Guard one waved.

"If they're awake, they can watch," He said vaguely.

Quatre found anger brewing up in side of him, coming over him like a spell.

She's so young.. I can't let her do this to herself just to save our lives..no this isn't right.

He stood still though, because suddenly the door opened and in stepped the guards.

Guard one was already undoing his pants. Quatre closed his eyes. She wasn't going to go through with it. She wasn't going to go through…with it.

"How do you want it- front or back?" the man asked stepping towards her. Hotaru folded her arms and tapped her chin.

"Wow I didn't think you would give me the option.. How nice of you.." She said sounding surprised. She took off her shirt. A thin toned stomach was revealed and a black laced bra. Quatre gulped.

No. No. She isn't going to do it..she wouldn't do that to herself.

He felt hopeless and pained because he couldn't honestly say that she wouldn't. He did even know her.

" From behind," She whispered turning her back to them and placing both her hands against the wall above her head.. Both walked forward and as they did Quatre noticed her back stiffen. She was waiting. Waiting for the right time. Like a tigress waiting for the crucial second to strike.

"You know what I thought when I first saw you?" She cooed.

"What." They both asked.

Quatre could almost feel the smirk that he was sure was on her face.

As soon as the guard put his hands on her hips she rounded on him with impossible speed and dived into a sweeper, kicking him off his feet as his head slammed into the floor. Guard two was going to make a run for her but before he could even move she had him in a head lock.

" Guys like you only think with one part of their body." She whispered.

She twisted viciously and the tender arch of his neck was snapped. He died instantly.

The pilots all watched in awe as she slowly dropped him to the ground and walked around to the struggling guard who was not yet dead. He tried to sit up and gagged and dropped back down, a small pool of blood around his face where he had hit his head. Hotaru hummed innocently as she pulled the gun on his belt out of it's holster.

"N..nnn.. N.." He couldn't bring up the words. He choked and watched with wide eyes as she pulled the safety off. Finally he got out the words.

"I have..a-..family-"

Without so much as a second of waiting, Hotaru shoved the gun upon his forehead and pulled the trigger. She shook her head as she back away.

"Hmm. The wonders of womanhood…" She said thoughtfully.

None of them said a word as she got the keys and unlocked their chains.

Hotaru helped Quatre to stand, still holding her arm, he looked at her long and hard.

"I would've never done it." She said reassuringly. He didn't say a word.

Then it was time to go.