Do I really have to type it again? Don't sue me, certain characters are mine, while others are the property of MIB: The Animated Series, and some more belong to Chanda and Delia (great writers). Hope you enjoy the story! ^_^

Written in the Stars: A Destined Romance

Chapter 5: Something in the Steam

Later that day, Val, Elle, Yazmine, Delia, and W went down to the MIB sauna. It was primarily used for health purposes (muscle aches, rejuvenation, and the like) but today the five women decided that a nice steam bath would help them relax.

"I still don't know how you managed to convince Zed to let us do this," Delia chuckled as she entered the room wrapped in a towel and sat next to Elle on a bench.

"I just told him that it would help relieve some of the work stress and tension that's been building up and thus increase the work efficiency of the agents," Yazmine explained.

W turned and added, "Yeah, and Yazmine here even managed to get the five of us to test out this whole steam treatment thing first!"

Elle sighed, "It's about time we all caught a break."

Val laughed at her friend, "Some of us needed one more than others." This remark earned her an angry look from Elle.

"C'mon girls, don't fight." Yazmine pleaded.

"Yeah," W said as she stretched out on the other end of the bench, "let's just try to enjoy the one moment of the day when we're NOT out chasing down vigilante aliens!"

"Dang!" Delia exclaimed suddenly, "I mean I know this is a sauna and all, but is it supposed to be THIS hot?!"

Val began fanning her face with her hand, "I know what you mean, maybe we should crack the door open just a little. Nobody's down here but us."

W walked over to the door and gave it a tug, it didn't budge. She shrugged and pulled harder, nothing. Yazmine glanced at Elle, "We are the only ones down here right?"

"I think so," Elle replied as Delia got up and pounded on the door, "LET US OUT!!!"

"Jay! This had better not be another of your little pranks!" Val called.

Suddenly, massive amounts of steam poured into the room. The girls glanced around but were unable to see each other. "Girls? Where are you?!" Delia shouted as she bumped into one of the benches.

"What's happening?" Yazmine choked.

"Help!" W screamed and banged loudly against the door.

Elle felt her way along the wall until she came to the door, she reached for the handle and stopped. Silence. W had stopped screaming. Elle knelt down and found that she had collapsed at the base of the door.

"W's out cold!"

"What?! What happened to her?" Val choked. Then she felt a sudden force knock against her knees. She looked down and waved the steam out of her view. She could feel a towel and something remotely heavy across her feet. Agent Delia had passed out on the floor in front of her. "Delia's out too!"

"Great," Elle muttered as she inspected W. Her breathing seemed normal and her pulse was only slightly irregular, yet---it was increasing. A breeze swept over Elle and she turned to see that it was Yazmine fluttering her wings rapidly, trying to blow some of the steam away from the two remaining agents.

"Any idea of what might've done this?" Elle called to Yazmine loudly, so as to be heard over the sound of her beating wings.

"I dunno, maybe it's something in the steam," Yazmine called back, "Whatever it is, we've GOT to get out of here and get these two to the medical lab pronto!"

Val made her way over to the door, covering her mouth in order to avoid breathing in too much of the steam. As she passed Yazmine she noticed that her wings were barely sputtering anymore. Val spun around sharply when she heard a loud thud behind her. She turned and saw that the scientist's legs had given out from under her, Yazmine laid in a little heap in the center of the room.

Val turned her horror stricken face towards Elle, "You've gotta get this door opened Val!" Elle shouted, gagging slightly from the heat and the large amounts of steam.

Val reached out and placed a firm grip on the door handle as Elle slid W out of the way. With a deep breath, Val yanked the handle. She pulled until the screws around the handle began to come loose. Elle watched desperately as her friend gave the handle one last tug and the door swung open. Steam came pouring out of the room and Val staggered out and took a few gulps of cool air.

Elle turned to grab W but the room started to spin. She started to feel weak, hot, cold, and tired all at once. As the floor came closer, Elle blacked out.

Val glanced over at the doorway and saw Elle lying there unconscious. She ran over to her, knelt down, and shook her gently by her shoulders. No response. "Oh no…you just hold on girl, I'm gonna go get help!" and with that she staggered out of the room and towards the living quarters.

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*Soooo? How'd ya like this chapter? Let me know, review! ^_^ *