O_o so, this chapter isn't actually complete, and I had to leave it a bit short, but this has already reached eight pages in Microsoft, and I fear pushing anymore inside a chapter at you. Either way, hope you enjoy! And the next chapter, since it's a continuation of this one, should be up in a few days!

The moment Pai's teleportation ended he wasted no time in checking on the tank. It appeared that Tokyo Mew Mew wanted to make an all or nothing gamble; they were beating towards the tank with a ferocity that hadn't been seen this apparent in the other fights they had had with the earthlings. Hold them off a little longer Kisshu and Taruto, I'll be as fast as I can. If they could hold off the mews long enough to all come together and combine their abilities to teleport, he could bring the project safely aboard their base and continue from there. But with the way the mew team was attacking, they'd have no chance. His only hope was to route the entire project to do a massive telejump, something that was both risky for the technology and the occupant within the holding tank, but it'd have to be done. Moving the creature to the ship meant it would take a little longer for the creature to fully mature, due to the lack of nutrients and sunlight, but it was still possible. Even now, still in its infancy, the chimera within watched Pai's meticulous fingers run fervently over the keyboard to initiate all programs to be stalled and put into safe mode. Its green eyes watched its master hungrily, eagerly trying to understand what was going on. The blob body was now forming a fat teardrop, the skin turning a slimy purple.

But even as he worked on the verge of being desperate to protect the key element to his plan, the other part of him raged about in silent frustration and confusion. It had happened, the unconscious fear that had taken hold of him had finally been made real.

He would have to kill Lettuce.

What would he look like if he didn't? Even Kisshu, who openly claimed the mew leader Ichigo, didn't hesitate to do what needed to be done now. Yet Pai wanted to find some excuse to not have to face his duty? And if Pai didn't go through with his threat, that would make the Tokyo Mew team all the more confident to trample over his work, as they were attempting to do right then. He clenched his teeth as he began to pull out various wires. Blondie, I swear if I ever get my hands on that man I'll strangle him, I will send every chimera anima at my disposal at him and thrash him into a pulp until it doesn't even resemble something of organic consistence. Ryou must have been hoping for a good chance here, because he just knowing and willingly sent Lettuce to the slaughter. Did he think that four mews would be able to completely annihilate three capable and trained Cyniclon warriors? Pai's heart twisted with frustration. It might have been his duty to conquer earth, but he didn't get a rush in massacring others. Yet he wanted to kill Ryou; it was a red haze across his eyes, a song singing through his veins; he'd never felt this much violent intent towards any of the human race before. But it wasn't because he wanted to safe his people. It wasn't so he could finally conquer earth. Or to simply defeat the team that so constantly fought against them.

It was because now he had to harm the one human who somehow became… like a friend to him. He wanted to know her more. Understand the things she felt. Maybe even come to have her feel the same for him.

And he had to kill her.

"PAI!"

The purple haired Cyniclon turned around just in time to see one of Mew Minto's attacks get past and head towards the tank. In an instant Pai blocked its path, his fan materializing into his hand. "Kuu Rai Sen!" His lightning attack met spectacularly with Minto's, the two massive energies cancelling each other out. He turned to Kisshu "Keep them from getting too close! Be ready when I give the signal!" Kish gave his nod of affirmation and then went back to bombarding Mew Ichigo and Mew Zakuro with his chimera mole. But as Pai turned his back from the fight, something in him stirred, telling him that something wasn't quite right.

He looked to see the chimera within the tank gazing him intently. It struck a nerve in him somehow to see one of his creature's watch him as it did. Normally the chimera's he created were only intelligent enough to follow orders, but he sensed this one somehow was different. Pai smiled sardonically at the creature; nothing like the smile he had given Lettuce but a few hours earlier.

Neither chimera nor its maker noticed the little pink fluff-ball hovering along the backside of the project, it's big eyes glowing as it scanned over the material before it.

Xxx

Keeping hidden so the tallest Cyniclon wouldn't notice him, Masha floated anxiously about, trying not to glance at his comrades in worry too often. He had a job to do!

A little farther from the fight, at the café Mew Mew, Ryou and Keiichiro watched from the basement through Masha's eyes as the battle went on with the three Cyniclons defending their big secret. The mew mascot had been scanning the alien tech to see what could be learned from it, but now that Pai had shown up, things would now move directly into action. Ryou Shirogane couldn't be more tense.

"It looks like they've taken the bait, Ryou." Keiichiro rested a hand on his friend's shoulder as they continued to watch on. "Their protecting it with all they've got. Are we ready?"

Ryou took a deep breath and entered a code before turning a microphone towards him. "Masha, can you hear me?"

A little bit of static followed before the cheery robotic voice responded. "Minnie Mew hears Ryou!"

"Min- ah, Masha, resume scanning process, but notify if phase one is disrupted, understood?"

"Minnie Mew will commence scanning process, and notify Ryou of changes!"

Ryou nodded despite the fact that the furry android couldn't see him. "Good, Ryou out." He quickly shut off the connection and began rapidly typing into his key board. The creator of Tokyo Mew Mew felt the beads of sweat begin to form on his brow. The real test is now. If we lose this gamble, all of our plans are in shambles, and we may lose completely.

A beacon of light on his screen told him that it had located Mew Lettuce's pendant. Hitting a few more keys, he lifted the microphone back towards him. Let's hope it's our lucky day. "Lettuce? Lettuce, are you there?"

Xxx

Lettuce hugged her knees closely to her as her crying silently racked her body. I've failed them! Her hands clenched the fabric of her pants more tightly as she gasped for breath. I should have found a way to keep the aliens from getting to them, I didn't even warn them of what the creature could do! What if… what if they die because of my weakness? A small cry escaped her lips before she could silence herself again. Ichigo, Pudding, Mint, Zakuro, I've failed you all! And Keiichiro, Ryou! I couldn't do anything to help you, I… She blinked back tears briefly. I… what am I doing? What will crying do for my friends? She brusquely wiped the water from here eyes. I can't give up yet! There must be something, even if it's just to pray for their safety. Her hands slowly let go of their grip on her knees, the stressed hiccups from tears caught in her throat smoothing over into gentle breaths. Ryou did not choose me to be a mew just to curl in a ball and wish there was something I could do. I can do something! However, it took a matter of moments before she reminded herself she was trapped in a giant room with no visible exit. No! I'm not giving up! There must be a way…

"Lettuce?"

The mew jumped in surprise as Ryou's voice echoed throughout the training room. She looked down to where it had originated and found herself gazing at her pendant. Oh my gosh! How could I have forgotten it was here? She felt hope brimming rather fast in her heart. I knew I could do something for them, I knew it!

"Lettuce, are you there?"

"Yes!" She picked up the pendant and tried not to let her voice crack from happiness. "Ryou, it's me, Lettuce, I'm here!"

"Lettuce!" Ryou felt like he would float up to the ceiling with relief. Keiichiro clapped him on the shoulder in triumph. "I can't believe it! Are you alright?"

"Yes Shirogane-san! I- you can't know how happy I am to hear from you! Are you safe? What's going on? The aliens said you're attacking the creature, does that mean-"

"We figured out where it is, but that's as much as I've learned."

"Ryou, the creature-"

"You can tell me about it when we get you back here." Ryou quickly came down to earth as he remembered just how much farther they needed to go before they were out of the mine field. "Where are you?"

"The training room. But there is no door; the Cyniclons have had to teleport me in each time."

Ryou hit the table in frustration. Perfect! How could they help her escape now? Keiichiro suddenly reached down and grabbed the microphone. "Lettuce? This is Keiichiro. Do you know if they watch you during the training sessions?"

"Yes, there's a window about twenty feet up that leads to the central control panel for the room."

The dark haired partner nodded. "Good. If there's no doorway, then that is your best bet for breaking out, do you think you can make it?"

There was a brief pause before the green mew answered. "I will try."

Ryou quickly grabbed the microphone. "Lettuce, listen carefully. Once you transform, the communication will cut out until you activate it again, so simply activate the communication once you break free. But there's a complication." Ryou hesitated, part of him wanting to forget phase three and just get Lettuce out of there as soon as possible. But they needed the information, lady luck just had to hold out for them a little longer. "I'll need you to use your pendant like a flash drive, I have programmed each of the mew pendants to be able to store data in case of needing information on missions, but I want you to download what you can of the Cyniclon's current project and store it in yours. You won't need to decipher any of it," he hurried on, "the pendant will be able to understand what it needs and doesn't need, will you be able to do this?"

Her answer was immediate. "Yes, Shirogane-san."

"The complication," he pressed, "is that you can't be transformed during the process, nor can communication be enacted during it, or the whole thing will be wiped clean off both memory slates as an emergency precaution."

Retasu hesitated in answering. "You're saying that, should something happen, or if the Cyniclons appear, there is nothing I can do until it finishes."

Ryou knew exactly what he sounded like. Like somebody who cared more for information than the people who retrieved it. "It's… it will be a vital component in future battles with them, and we've never had a chance like this arise before." Nor ever such a terrible problem like this before. He brooded. "Lettuce, will you be able to do this?"

…

Ryou furrowed his brow. Was she going to back out? Would she plead with him not to make her do it and just get her home? He didn't think he'd have the strength to fight her on it. He briefly wondered if he wanted the strength to fight her on it. "Lettuce, did you hear me?"

"… Yes, I'm sorry for the delay. If this is what will help us protect the earth, then there is no other option. I will contact you as soon as I'm out."

"No, just get out and find what should look like a mix between a disk insert and plug-in on one of the larger systems, and the pendant should do the rest." The sooner she completes this, the sooner we can finally bring her home. Keiichiro gripped his shoulder reassuringly, reading Ryou's face as to the inner turmoil that was taking place.

"Alright. Please be safe Shirogane-san, and the girls!"

Before Ryou could argue that it was her that needed the safety, the connection was cut.

Xxx

What do I do now? Retasu looked up at the height to the window, trying to gauge how high her attack would go before weakening. I need to be higher for this to make any difference. She glanced down at her pendant. Well, first things first. Quickly kissing the pendant, she raised it above her head. "Mew Mew Lettuce, METAMORPHOSIS!"

The radiant light quickly filled the room and surrounded the green mew, leaving no crack of shadow or shade of darkness hiding in any corner. Lettuce momentarily relished the feeling of transforming, like a warm breeze filling her to the brim. All at once the radiant glow dissipated, leaving the emerald mew shimmering slightly in place of the gentle human that had once stood there.

It was a long distance, and if she messed up, she was sure she wouldn't be able to land on her feet like Ichigo would. She paced a little while longer around the room, judging the best course to her destination. Alright, it's now or never. Not only would she have to somehow scale the twenty foot height, but she'd have to break the window so she could escape. She carefully positioned herself from on the far side of the room. Lettuce glanced up one last time, sending a silent plea out as well that this would somehow by some miracle work.

Without further delay she sprinted towards the far wall, ten feet away jumping up against it. Despite her mew abilities, her feet found no hold and gravity began to play against her almost immediately. She twisted frantically so she had a clear view of the opposite wall. It looked even farther than before. Now! Mustering all her strength she pushed off the wall towards the next wall, higher than before. Her stomach lurched as she caught a glimpse of the ground midway across. Don't give up Lettuce! Almost there! Again she landed on the wall, and again she twisted to see the opposing wall. The window was now a scarce five feet above her on the other side. As gravity began trying to gain the upper hand she whisked out her castanets and jumped. Half-way across she readied her attack. "Ribbon, Lettuce RUSH!"

The powerful wave burst from her mew weapon and slammed into the window with painful force. The window cracked, but held. Lettuce felt panic rise in her. No! Using the force created from her attack, she allowed herself to be propelled backwards towards the wall again. Just as her attack cut out she landed against the wall and pushed off again. "Ribbon, Lettuce RUSH!"

With renewed vigor the water slammed into the window, causing the pane of glass to dent inwards and crack even further.

But still it did not break.

Lettuce had only one option left, or she wouldn't make it out. Once again she allowed her attack to propel her backwards towards the wall. When her attack faded she gathered all the strength she had left and pushed off from the wall towards the pane. Covering her face quickly she collided with the window, breaking the last remaining strength of the window and shattering it across the lab floor. The green mew herself landed unceremoniously against the floor amidst the mixture of broken glass and water.

She stayed on the floor, her breath laboring from what she had just done. Normally, she had enough for one good attack, but not only did she manage two, she scaled a twenty foot wall beforehand. Lettuce didn't even have the energy to wince at the cuts on her arms and legs from the impact with the glass window. I… made it… I escaped…

Her head continued to throb painfully despite her best efforts to protect herself, but it might have simply been because all she could truly think of was the job Ryou had entrusted her to do. He had said that they had never had an opportunity like this before, and he was right. If she could do this, her friends, the mews, the world! It could give them the upper hand that they had needed for so long. Her arms trembled as she tried to raise herself from the ground. You can do this, think of your friends Retasu, think of your family waiting for you, your duty to your planet! She stood and gingerly tried to brush off the glass on her. Wait, what if I've damaged the technology! Lettuce turned quickly and looked at the machinery, but evidently alien technology was more water proof than their own. She allowed herself a sigh of relief. Now for the difficult part. What if the Cyniclon's return, what if Pai…? She shook her head. No, I can't think like that, I have to take this risk no matter what. My friends have always been there for me, now I can do something for them.

She took a deep breath and reached up to her pendant. In a matter of moments the warm sensation that engulfed her when she transformed returned, but this time the only after sensation was that she was cold from being in the water. Lettuce looked down at the pendant now lying in her hand. My friends, please hold out a little longer for me.

Xxx

Ichigo quickly dodged out of the way of one of Kish's daggers and sent her hand clawing towards his face. In an instant, almost gracefully, the green haired Cyniclon flitted away, the smirk he had previously worn when the fight had begun converted to a focused frown. She couldn't stand the guy, but she knew what he was feeling. They had been fighting longer than the mew team had ever tried to battle before. And hopefully, only she and the other mews understood why.

Kisshu gave her a lopsided grin as if sensing her fatigue. "What's wrong Ichigo? Getting tired of playing hard-to-get?"

A new rush of dislike ran threw her. If her and her friends failed this, Lettuce would probably die of the consequences. She and her team were fighting to keep the fight going, and he was making wise-cracks? Augh! But I have to keep this up! If the aliens leave now, Ryou might not of had enough time to save Lettuce! Until he shows the signal, we have to keep going! Even if that means playing this sick creep's games! She thought a moment as she dodged the chimera anima Zakuro was lashing out at, then threw herself towards the green haired Cyniclon and made a slightly delayed kick to his stomach, which he dodged like she had anticipated. "Kish, if it looks like I'm playing hard-to-get, maybe it's because I'm out of your league!"

The weary frown broke into one of his classic fanged grins that sent strange feelings running down the Mew leader's spine. "Which makes me want you even more, my kitten."

Ichigo gritted her teeth and dove away, her heart speeding up in a way that had nothing to do with battle, but she refused to see any other reason for it. No! Think of Masaya! You're planning a date with him in a few days, focus on Masaya! Ryou, hurry and save Lettuce already!

Xxx

Done! The pendant began to blink rapidly as the download reached completion. With an almost imperceptible pop~ the little trinket ejected itself and fell onto the water/glass strewn floor. Lettuce quickly bent to retrieve it and contact Ryou. "Ryou? Ryou, can you hear me? I finished the download."

After a few moments of static the leader of the mews broke through. "Great! I've received the information, now leave the room through the main door and take the corridor to your right."

Lettuce furrowed her brow slightly. "Where am I going?"

"When you downloaded the information for me, I took several blueprint files of the ship. I'm tracking your position through the signal your mew pendant gives off. Our goal is to get you to a large room at the far corner of the ship."

The green mew was quickly leaving down the right corridor, wincing at the cuts on her legs. "What's in there?"

"If my calculations and this information is correct, a gaint computer, the mother board system on the whole ship. It should have it's own built-in teleporter, a technological version of the one the Cyniclons have developed. When you reach the third hallway, go left."

Lettuce rounded the corner, gasping slightly when she rubbed one particular cut along her inner thigh. "Are the mews alright?"

"They're holding their own, but let's focus on getting you home, don't worry about them."

Not likely to happen Ryou. Lettuce felt herself start a bit when she realized how much her feelings towards the team leader had changed. She didn't depend on his words as she had once. She trusted them, but there was nothing in her that felt stirred by his words. But this didn't bring any gladness to her heart. Why? Why can't I like him as I had? Why is it now Pai that I think about? Why is he the one who I'm worried what he'll think of me? She did feel quite terrible for wrecking the training room, she was sure there would be water damage by the end. But luckily nothing was seriously ruined in his lab. He'll never forgive me for this… It did her no good to remind herself that Pai hadn't been in anyway close enough to her to have had forgiving her actually matter, but nonetheless…

"Lettuce!"

She started a bit. "Huh? I'm sorry, what did you say Ryou?"

"Go back to the last hallway you passed and turn right, you should see the room at the end of the hallway."

Lettuce hurried to retrace her steps and found herself looking straight at the eerie green room she had seen what felt like years ago when Taruto was leading her to the training section for the first time.

"Your almost home Lettuce! Once you get in there, I'll need to run you through some schematics on how to operate the mother board, it'll take some time though."

"I'll hurry." I'm almost home, almost home…

Xxx

I'm almost done! Just reroute this connection here… done!

Pai turned to see his friends still working in a frenzy to keep the mews at bay. Pressing a button and backing away, he watched as his creation jumped in surprise, still studying him, and then dissolved out of site to reappear in a secure room on the ship. Finally, the project is safe. He felt his heart twist painfully at what this also meant. But first to take care of the rest of the Tokyo Mew team.

Nothing had changed, it seemed like no matter how his friends pressed, the mews still kept attacking, and seemed to make almost no effect on them. Pai frowned to himself. Blondie has never been this stupid in his tactics. And what kind of strategy is it to bluntly attack head-on anyway? One could assume they had hoped for a sneak attack, but surely he must have suspected the area was triggered. His eyes widened at a sudden thought. No, he knew this place would be wired, he knew we would know when they came in. He sent the team here to attack us without any intention of real surprise, but why? Does he really think he can take out a whole team of Cyniclons? He watched the mews intently, how they just managed to dodge attacks, and how the creatures and his friends did the same. Wait! He watched Ichigo attack Kisshu and saw her momentary hesitation, just enough of a hesitation for the Cyniclon to jump away free of any attempted attack. He quickly turned to watch the others and saw that it was the same. Each time one of the mews went to attack they either hesitated or missed their targets by just a hair. They're allowing their attacks to be dodged! They're stalling the outcome of the fight? But why, I've teleported the creature to safety, they shouldn't have any need… All at once Pai saw what he had been missing. Ryou's goal had never been to take out the Cyniclons.

It had been to save Lettuce.

He shouted a rather dark curse in astonishment. But how could he-? Pai felt himself pale and reached down to his pocket, and in panic felt inside the other. The pendant! The purple haired Cyniclon saw it clear as day falling carelessly beside Lettuce, and still sitting there as he teleported away. Did she plan…? No, Ryou must have gambled that she would have it nearby, and I played right into it! He calculated the time I had had her train before when he had made contact and played his hand during a similar time in hopes of meeting the same circumstance. It was his plan to have me leave her in the training room, the only place I would seriously allow her to have her pendant! Then the rest of the mew team never intended for a real fight here, they've been stalling us from returning to the ship! He had been outwitted by the one man he couldn't stand. And all in order to save the girl he didn't want to kill. If Lettuce leaves, all our leverage will disintegrate, and with everything Lettuce had learned from our ship, it could put us in a more vulnerable position than ever before! I hate that man! That cunning, diabolical excuse of a human being is a waste of oxygen for this planet and I hate him! Even as he fumed, Pai realized that Lettuce could be getting away at any moment.

"Lettuce!" He murmured angrily before teleporting away.

Masha, hovering not too far away, watched Pai disappear. "No, Ryou! Ryou! Phase one is disrupted, Ryou!"

Xxx

Kisshu was enjoying himself. He didn't know why Ichigo was letting him dodge her attacks, but it was somewhat enjoyable, almost like they were doing a dance together. He grinned to himself. And it makes for such a fun time of flirting with her!

He heard an exclamation behind him and glanced back to see Pai looking utterly astonished. But the face quickly changed into a dark, dangerous face that Kish made an effort to avoid when it occurred. This time, however, he couldn't afford to ignore it. Something's wrong! His suspicions were only confirmed as he watched his friend teleport away. Back to the ship no doubt. A dark foreboding filled his heart (or what excuse he had for a heart). I'd better follow.

Kish jumped out of the way of one of Zakuro's random attacks before moving to teleport.

Xxx

Ichigo felt her stomach drop as she dodged the chimera mole to see Pai teleporting away, his face a mask of absolute anger. Ryou hasn't contacted us, Lettuce isn't out of there yet! He can't go back! But how could she get the Cyniclon to come back? What if the other Cyniclons are leaving too?

She turned quickly and saw Kisshu dodge Zakuro's whip, with his back turned to her unwittingly bringing himself closer to her. And just as she had feared, he began to teleport away too. Lettuce! She's going to be in big trouble if they catch her! They'll kill her! Acting on instinct Ichigo jumped quickly to where Kisshu had been and suddenly felt herself being sucked into his teleportation hole that had been left behind.

I'm coming Lettuce!

:D We gotta stop ending like this! Well, no, not really, I like ending like this! Anyway, the next one should be up in a few days. Hope everyone's enjoying their summer, I know I am! And again, GIVE ME THE CRITISISM! It won't always mean I'll change something, but if there is something that can improve the story, I want to know!