Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon characters in them…though I wished I did… hehe… enjoy.
Chapter 10: Setting the Stage
Outside, soldiers from the Sanc Kingdom along with the Preventers were fighting off the enemy. The boys were staged at different points of the battlefield guiding the troops into different attacks in order to overwhelm the enemy according to their plan. Needless to say that Duo was having a blast as well as Haruka.
"YEAH, NOW THIS IS HOW YOU PARTY!" Duo cried as he launched a grenade to one of the tanks watching it burst in flames, "BURN BABY BURN!" he exclaimed in triumph as he shot down the two soldiers that came out of it.
"You're enjoying this WAY too much" Haruka said as she too shot down a couple of soldiers that were running towards them.
"Yeah, look who's talking" he grinned as he watched her fire, "nice aim"
"Well thank you" she grinned as she positioned herself in another angle, covering from the flying bullets, "hate to admit it, but I learned from the best"
"Damn right!" Duo chuckled as he prepared another set of explosives, "cover me will ya?" he said as he prepared to sprint.
"Sure thing" Haruka replied and started the assault while Duo ran towards another point and set the explosives.
"Man I missed causing mayhem" Duo exclaimed as he heard the explosions go off as he ran towards another point.
Meanwhile, Wufei and Trowa led the troops towards a weak spot they had found in their enemies defenses. Michelle was with them as well; flaking them and making sure that they were not attacked from behind or any other surprises for that matter. Heero had just joined them as well and all together, they executed the last phase of their attack plan.
"RETREAT" was heard and all enemy soldiers turned tails and left the battlefield as quickly as they came in. Once everything calmed down and making sure that no more attacks were coming, the Gundam pilots met up with Sally, Michelle and Haruka to understand the current situation.
"That was strange" Sally said thoughtfully, "they still had the full advantage, why would they retreat?"
"Something is not right here" Michelle said as she placed a hand over her heart.
"Yeah! Even I know that they could rack the kingdom and then some" Duo frowned.
"Maybe we overlooked something?" Trowa said as he pulled his communicator, "Come in 04" he called.
"04 here" Quatre replied.
"Is Relena there with you?" Trowa asked
"Yes. We are fine" Quatre asked frowning, "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Quatre asked worriedly. He was checking the monitors the whole time and noticed some unusual movements among the enemy's strategies 'Something up, what could it be?' he thought.
"I believe so" Trowa said, "were coming over to you" he said and closed communications.
They all filed inside the ballroom meeting up with Quatre and Relena. Heero looked around the room and frowned. The others started the conversation about what happened and what to do next, but he didn't pay attention. Something or rather someone was missing and he kept searching the room stepping away from the others. He noticed something shinning on the floor in the far back in the room. As he approached it, his whole body went stiff. There on the floor was a heart shaped locket that looked oddly familiar to him. Picking it up and staring at it, he confirmed his fear. He gripped the locket tightly in his hand and taking one quick look around the room, he could figured out what the hell happened.
"So what do we now?" Duo asked.
"I'm not sure. They're movements were odd enough. They didn't even force their way in here. They should know we would guard Relena inside the building"
"Relena wasn't their target" Heero growled as he approached the group, a dark aura could be sensed around him.
They all turned to him and when the girls saw what he had in his hand, they both gasped, "Serena? They have Serena?" Michelle cried, tears glistening in her eyes.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Haruka screamed in frustration, "HOW? WE DIDN'T SENSE ANY OF THEM!"
"Because they didn't come here personally" the group looked down and saw that Hotaru, Luna Artemis were there as well as Setsuna. They had transported during Haruka's scream. Luna was extremely distressed as well as the others.
"Luna! Artemis! What's going on?" Michelle asked as Haruka held her for support.
"Wait! What? The cat can talk?!" Sally and Relena exclaimed at the same time.
"Later" Duo said and turned to the cats and Setsuna, "So basically what you're saying is that all this was just a distraction?"
"Yes" Setsuna said, "they knew that staging Relena's kidnapping was the perfect cover for their main goal" she stopped and looked at Heero who only glared, "We don't have time to loose. If we don't find her soon, we won't make it in time to save her".
"So what's the plan?" Wufei asked, clearly on edge.
Relena could sense the tension in the room, but more importantly, the tension that she felt from Heero was VERY different from the others. She finally understood how important Serena was to him. Coming to a decision, she decided that she should start acting like the leader they all needed at this moment.
"Ok. This is what we are going to do" she said and this caused that everyone's attention focused on her, including Heero's, "you all know where their base is, correct?" at their nod she continued, "well how about we stage a different scenario that can cause them to go into panic and attack recklessly, like demoralizing their soldiers for example. Once the leader lose control over his subjects, it will give you guys the perfect opportunity to rescue Serena."
"It could actually work" Quatre thought carefully, "and I'm assuming you already have something in mind?"
"You know me too well, Quatre" she smiled and proceeded to tell them her plan.
Serena whimpered as she opened her eyes and held her head, trying to stop the world from spinning. The first thing she noticed was that she was in a dark room and that her ankle was chained to the bed. Testing the strength and length of the chain, she couldn't move much, let alone leave the bed. Sighing in frustration, she reached her hand in her pocket and noticed that her locket was missing, 'freaking perfect' she growled. She then proceeded to glance around the room. Only a few pieces of furniture were seen, the drapes of the windows were closed so she couldn't tell if it was day or night, but she also noticed that in a corner of the room, was an armchair that wasn't empty. She panicked.
"Who's there?" she cried.
"Long time no see, my dear" the deep voice said and stood to approach the bed.
Serena tensed as she recognized the voice and backed away colliding with the headboard, 'nowhere to go' she thought as she kept her eyes on the man.
"What's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me?"
"It's not pleasant to see the person that is trying to kill you, Darien" Serena hissed, "Why are you here? You got what you wanted so why do you follow me?" Serena screamed as she tried to get loose to no vail.
"Oh Serena, you still don't understand do you?" Darien said as he sat on the edge of the bed, looking evilly at her, "no matter where you run off to, we are still bound until one of us die. You can thank your mother for that" he said as he caressed her face and she slapped it away.
"Don't. Touch. Me" she growled.
Darien only chuckled and stared at her intently, "you've changed; interesting. I think I might like this new you" he said as he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to be inches from his face, "maybe this could work after all" he said and was about to kiss her when there was a knock on the door.
"Damn it" he hissed. He let her go and stood up, walking towards the door but before he could step out, he turned and grinned, "We'll continue this later, bunny" he said and locked the door behind him.
Serena could only stare at the closed door as tears poured down her face, 'NO NO NO' she cried throwing herself onto one of the pillows, "What am I going to do now?" she sobbed. 'Heero' she thought as she cried herself to sleep.
Heero jerked up from where he was checking his guns when he felt like someone was calling him.
"What's up Buddy?" Duo asked as he placed his final ammo clip in his belt and placed his black coat on him.
Shaking off the feeling, he inserted one of the ammo clips into his gun and put it in his belt. "Nothing" he said as he too finished loading up and putting on his black jacket, "Let's go".
"Right" Duo replied and they were both off to the garage, mounted their bikes and ridding into the night.
Heero replayed the last few hours that had literally turned his world upside down and straight into hell.
Flashback
"Ok so everyone knows what to do, correct?" Lady Une asked as she turned off the projection monitor and glanced at the crowed inside the conference room. They were all back at the Preventers Headquarters preparing the rescue mission. At everyone's nod, Lady Une dismissed the preventers and they left the room only leaving the Gundam pilots and the Outer Sailors in the room.
"You really think this will work?" Michelle asked worriedly.
"It will. Don't worry" Quatre said.
"Heero, Duo, go and get ready" Wufei commanded and they both nodded.
"Michelle, Haruka, Setsuna, Hotaru transform and go to the appointed location" Artemis said.
"Remember to keep your energy levels low" Luna addded.
"Right!" the girls cried and shouted "Uranus Star Power! Neptune Star Power! Saturn Star Power! Pluto Star Power!" Once transformed they gather into a circle and calling on their powers once more, they vanished into thin air.
"I never get tired of seeing this" Duo said shook his head as he and Heero left the room towards the garage of the building.
"Hn"
Wufei and Sally headed towards where the preventers were getting ready and awaiting orders.
"Alright, Miss Relena, let's get this show on the road" Quatre said as he guided her to the press room, followed by Lady Une and Trowa.
"Right" she said and followed Quatre into the press room of the Preventers Headquarters.
End of Flashback
Heero could still remember the first and last dance he and Serena had. He could still smell her delicate perfume, he could still remember her beautiful eyes and smile and how right it felt to have her in his arms. He didn't know how to explain what he felt at that moment, but he'll be damned if he were ever to lose it. Gripping the handles and cranking the throttle of his bike he rev up his bike and alongside Duo, they both raced towards the enemy's building.
'I'm coming, Serena, hold on' he thought hopeful that she could sense his plea.
"And so, I ask the nations of this wonderful country and to you my fellow colonies, let us stand united and not fall into the treacherous games that this new threat has bestowed upon us. Together we stand, together we will fight. Peace is not a virtue, it's our right and we will protect it. Thank you"
Lita turns the T.V. off and sets the remote down on the table, "so what do you make of this?" she asks as she turns and glances around the room.
"Probably she's trying to have the other representatives give their support in order to protect this so call 'Peace'?" Mina giggles as she continues to read a magazine.
"I don't sense anything from her or the ones around her; we shouldn't waste our energy on them. We have other matters to attend to" Rei said as she finished her meditation in front of the fire place and stood.
"We should just keep an eye on them, just in case." Amy said as she closed her book and took her glasses off, "by the way Rei, have you seen Darien lately?"
Ami's question caused the others to stop what they were doing and focus on her. "What's going on Amy? You know something we don't?" Lita asked.
Rei was stunned, but didn't waver, "No as a matter of fact I haven't. Do you know the reason Ami?" she glared at her comrade.
"Calm down everyone. The reason that I ask is simple. Haven't you noticed that ever since he returned from the assault, he has barely been seen by anyone?"
This caused the others to frown and think deeply.
"You know, yesterday I asked him if he wanted to have dinner together but he brushed me off saying that he had important things to do and was busy" Rei said annoyed at this.
"Hmmm… he's up to something" Mina said as she closed her magazine, "should we confront him?"
"No. Let's watch for now. Besides, we could always ask 'Mother'" Lita said, "I'm hungry, you guys coming?" she said and they all left the room.
"Wonderful speech Miss Relena" Quatre said as they all entered the conference room back at the Preventer Headquarters.
"Thank you Quatre"
"We'll take our leave then. We must get ready" Trowa said and bowed at the ladies.
"Be careful" Relena said as they walked out the door, "I hope this works" she sighed and felt Lady Une's hand on her shoulder.
"It will" she smiled, "our boys are well prepared"
"You're right"