Chapter Eleven: Between Galaxies
She couldn't breathe, her lungs burned with agony. The clawed fingers around her throat were closing off her airway and she struggled to live. The empress's blue-green eyes swirled with madness and a thirst for power. The imperial princess would think nothing of killing her to get what she wanted. Relena shifted against her invisible shackles weakly, her stength leaking out of her as her brain shut down from lack of oxygen. She stared vacantly out at the white world around her, mentally calling for the one person who could save her. Even if she died she would not invoke the power of the Keys, whatever it was. She would protect the earth, and Heero.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heero turned to where Relena was still shackled against the wall, the empress standing solidly before her. How easy it would be to kill that evil woman now, while she was helpless, but he couldn't. Kagetsu had said it would trap Relena in a space between galaxies and he would never do anything to endanger Relena. He walked forward wearily, his tired mind still sharp and processing the situation. He would have to be careful in whatever he decided. This time nothing would be sacrificed.
Suddenly, off to his right, the empress jerked and in front of him, Relena began to shudder, an expression of pain flitting across her sweet face. Instantly he filled the gaping sense of loss within with anger and fury. He pounded a fist across the shackles holding Relena's wrists. The metal bulged under his blow and he caught Relena's abused body as it slipped from imprisonment. He wrapped his arms around her limp form and touched his forehead to hers, closing his eyes.
Between galaxies...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He is coming.
The gentle voice drifted through the darkness that was threatening to consume her. She knew it was the Keys who spoke but her muddled mind did not comprehend who they were talking about. Before her, the empress suddenly stiffened, her hold on Relena relaxing as she looked off to the left with apprehension. Relena turned her head slightly, trying to see through her blurry gaze. Crystal shards of dark blue, earth brown, and moon silver were racing towards them, the colors emphasized against the colorless landscape. She thought, for a moment, she saw the shadow of a man in those colors but she couldn't be sure. She felt so weak.
Be brave, little one. He comes.
The colors flew to a stop right next to her and resolved into the beautiful image of Heero, dressed in the dark cloak and armor of his other half, Gharial. Strangely, he was missing both of his swords but he still looked dangerous. The minute he was visible he shot a blast of white-blue fire at the empress, who released Relena to avoid getting hit. Heero caught her as she fell, and Relena looked up into his dark Prussian blue eyes, finding them filled with love and frustrated worry. He touched her face gently and she saw within him a sadness that hadn't been there before. She opened her mouth to ask what had happened when grating laughter filled her ears.
"Ah, how sweet." The empress mocked, watching them with disdain. "The two lovers are reunited in time to bring down the evil sorceress. Isn't that how all your earthlings stories go?" She sniffed and her eyes focused on Heero. "Gharial, you of all people, must know that this resistance is hopeless. I have all the powers of my ancestors and I will use it all to gain the last Key."
Relena looked up at Heero, her eyes asking the question. He looked down at her with grim determination. "She may have power," He said, softly, "But you have the heart.
I believe in you."
She smiled suddenly, feeling a little of his strength leak into her as it always did when he was around. She used that strength to turn and look the empress in the eye. She didn't know really what she should do, only that she had to try for the sake of the world. Heero believed in her and she would not let him down.
She drew her arms over her head, crossing them at the wrists, and clearing her mind of any stray thoughts. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Would this work? If she really was a Key, could she call on the others? Could she do this?
Call on us. We are with you.
"Ancient powers of distant realms." She recited, the words slipping off her tongue as she heard them in her mind. At her feet, a silver nexus of power appeared, revolving slowly around her and causing her dark gold hair to drift around her in an unseen wind.
"Spirits that bring the power of their spheres from the night sky." Two tendrils of light emerged from the nexus, swirling around her to merge into a ball of light between her crossed palms.
Before her, the empress watched with glee, thinking that Relena was finally calling the Keys for her. She would have the earth yet.
"Hear my call and answer my plea!" The ball of light pulsed and a violent wind tore through the lifeless world, whiping Heero's cloak around him and causing the empress to take a step back. Relena suddenly opened her eyes, staring directly at the empress.
"Kenta mahvra celinda! Come to me, my Keys!"
For a moment, Relena's slim form was outlined by a pair of glittering white angel wings and behind her, Heero could have sworn that he saw a group of individuals, strange and unique, all called from their different worlds by the power of the woman he loved. Then the ball of light exploded outward and the images were lost. A huge tidal wave of blindingly white power spread away from Relena in huge ripples. The empress gave an exultant cry as the first one washed over her but after a moment, a surprised look flitted across her face and began to scream in torment, as if her soul was being ripped out of her. The scream howled through the air as the power crackled around Relena and Heero came to her, wrapping his cloak around her to protect her from what she called forth. A high pitched explosion sounded close by and the pale world cracked and went dark.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Quatre headed quickly towards the outer levels of the ship. He had gotten all the surviving humans off and had dealt accordingly with the A'rateken. Things were ready where he was standing and he could only hope things had gone as well with the others. He only had to give the word to Sally and his mission would be complete.
He stopped before exiting the ship to take a look at the explosives Sally had rigged. They were put in place and she carried the detonator that would set them off once he had given the word. Everything was right.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Quatre was suddenly tackled from behind, the air rushing out of his lungs from the blow. He was then abruptly hauled to his feet by an A'rateken guard who glared at him while sneaking glances at the bomb.
"What are you doing here, rebel scum?" He hissed, his slanted eyes flashing. He pulled his sword from its sheath and slid it against Quatre's neck. The ex-pilot had no time to react as another sword blade suddenly appeared in the guard's chest, a pool of red immediantly spreading from the wound. The A'rateken fell and Quatre quickly freed himself from the deam man's grip. He turned to face his rescuer only to find Dorothy running towards him.
"What...?" He started, but Dorothy went past him to draw her sword from the body which had collapsed on top of the bomb. Apprehension filled Quatre as he bent down and moved the dead guard to see if his fall had damaged the explosives. His quick eyes found the problem and he quickly tapped his communicator.
"Sally, I think we've got a problem."
"What is it, Quatre?"
"The bomb's been damaged. I think the homing beacon has been broken."
Sally and Wufei had but a homing beacon on the bomb which would act as a target when Wufei fired a pair of missiles from the high ridge close to the city. The missiles would explode on impact, causing the bombs to explode and the whole place to go up in smoke. Nothing could survive, the A'rateken must be wiped out forever. That was how it was planned, but now...
"Quatre, if we don't have the homing beacon we can't fire the missiles, and the explosives don't have enough power to destroy all the ships alone. Can you fix it?"
He peered at the wires intently, touching one lightly with his fingers. Dorothy watched him silently. " I think so."
He leaned over the bomb, touching various wire until he got an answer.
By holding the wire in place, he got the beacon to flash again, emitting its tracking signal.
"It's working." Dorothy stated flatly and he nodded once.
"If I hold it in place it will work." He said, softly. Dorothy suddenly moved, pushing him harshly away from the explosives, her eyes flashing with anger.
"What do you think you are doing, Quatre?" She said, practically bristling. "Do you think you can just die with no qualms? There are people who need you, Quatre. Rena and the others. Your the backbone, the mind, without you they would be lost."
He hesitated. "What are you saying, Dorothy?
Instead of answering, she reached down and held the beacon in place, causing the light to flash again, steadily. He felt himself go cold all over.
"Dorothy, I can't let you. You may have chosen the wrong side but I can't let you die for a cause your not sure of. Come away, we'll figure something out."
"Quatre," She said, quietly. "You may think that I betrayed you, but I do have my reasons. War calls me, as it always has, but I never gave up hope that you and the others would suceed, though I thought it unlikely. This is the only way. I am warrior, and I want to die a warrior's death. Let me do this, Quatre. I know in my heart this is right."
There were no words. Even after all these years he still thought of her as a friend and his heart was screaming to haul her away as fast as he could. But his mind understood what she was saying. This was who she was and he knew he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it.
"Go, Quatre, let me do this for everyone who wishes for liberation."
He closed his eyes and tapped his communicator.
"Sally?"
"Yes, Quatre?"
"The ships are clear."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Duo raced through the empty corridors of the Sank palace, searching wildly for Heero and Rena. He knew that Hilde was in place to destroy the palace, something all of them were reluctant to do, but it would be a signal to the A'rateken that their domination was over. It had to be done.
And time was running out. He needed to find those two before the place was blown off the maps. Well, if anyone could find them, the God of Death could.
"Ready or not, here I come!"
tbc...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
whew! *takes a deep breath* okay, how was it? Good, bad, ugly? More angst and action coming up! A big thank you to all you loyal reviewers! (Nim, sweetangel, jason, jay, luvspook, padme, ayanami-chan, ducky, neekabe, jade, empress, silver, silverwing, Grrl, angelic, nightheart ) you guys are great!
*looks at Jason warily* please don't hurt me about Dorothy! She's awesome! Hey, at least she wasn't bad! *hides behind her shield* Put down the flamethrower!
Next Chapter: ...On Feathered Wings...
please review, *hugs*
She couldn't breathe, her lungs burned with agony. The clawed fingers around her throat were closing off her airway and she struggled to live. The empress's blue-green eyes swirled with madness and a thirst for power. The imperial princess would think nothing of killing her to get what she wanted. Relena shifted against her invisible shackles weakly, her stength leaking out of her as her brain shut down from lack of oxygen. She stared vacantly out at the white world around her, mentally calling for the one person who could save her. Even if she died she would not invoke the power of the Keys, whatever it was. She would protect the earth, and Heero.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heero turned to where Relena was still shackled against the wall, the empress standing solidly before her. How easy it would be to kill that evil woman now, while she was helpless, but he couldn't. Kagetsu had said it would trap Relena in a space between galaxies and he would never do anything to endanger Relena. He walked forward wearily, his tired mind still sharp and processing the situation. He would have to be careful in whatever he decided. This time nothing would be sacrificed.
Suddenly, off to his right, the empress jerked and in front of him, Relena began to shudder, an expression of pain flitting across her sweet face. Instantly he filled the gaping sense of loss within with anger and fury. He pounded a fist across the shackles holding Relena's wrists. The metal bulged under his blow and he caught Relena's abused body as it slipped from imprisonment. He wrapped his arms around her limp form and touched his forehead to hers, closing his eyes.
Between galaxies...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He is coming.
The gentle voice drifted through the darkness that was threatening to consume her. She knew it was the Keys who spoke but her muddled mind did not comprehend who they were talking about. Before her, the empress suddenly stiffened, her hold on Relena relaxing as she looked off to the left with apprehension. Relena turned her head slightly, trying to see through her blurry gaze. Crystal shards of dark blue, earth brown, and moon silver were racing towards them, the colors emphasized against the colorless landscape. She thought, for a moment, she saw the shadow of a man in those colors but she couldn't be sure. She felt so weak.
Be brave, little one. He comes.
The colors flew to a stop right next to her and resolved into the beautiful image of Heero, dressed in the dark cloak and armor of his other half, Gharial. Strangely, he was missing both of his swords but he still looked dangerous. The minute he was visible he shot a blast of white-blue fire at the empress, who released Relena to avoid getting hit. Heero caught her as she fell, and Relena looked up into his dark Prussian blue eyes, finding them filled with love and frustrated worry. He touched her face gently and she saw within him a sadness that hadn't been there before. She opened her mouth to ask what had happened when grating laughter filled her ears.
"Ah, how sweet." The empress mocked, watching them with disdain. "The two lovers are reunited in time to bring down the evil sorceress. Isn't that how all your earthlings stories go?" She sniffed and her eyes focused on Heero. "Gharial, you of all people, must know that this resistance is hopeless. I have all the powers of my ancestors and I will use it all to gain the last Key."
Relena looked up at Heero, her eyes asking the question. He looked down at her with grim determination. "She may have power," He said, softly, "But you have the heart.
I believe in you."
She smiled suddenly, feeling a little of his strength leak into her as it always did when he was around. She used that strength to turn and look the empress in the eye. She didn't know really what she should do, only that she had to try for the sake of the world. Heero believed in her and she would not let him down.
She drew her arms over her head, crossing them at the wrists, and clearing her mind of any stray thoughts. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Would this work? If she really was a Key, could she call on the others? Could she do this?
Call on us. We are with you.
"Ancient powers of distant realms." She recited, the words slipping off her tongue as she heard them in her mind. At her feet, a silver nexus of power appeared, revolving slowly around her and causing her dark gold hair to drift around her in an unseen wind.
"Spirits that bring the power of their spheres from the night sky." Two tendrils of light emerged from the nexus, swirling around her to merge into a ball of light between her crossed palms.
Before her, the empress watched with glee, thinking that Relena was finally calling the Keys for her. She would have the earth yet.
"Hear my call and answer my plea!" The ball of light pulsed and a violent wind tore through the lifeless world, whiping Heero's cloak around him and causing the empress to take a step back. Relena suddenly opened her eyes, staring directly at the empress.
"Kenta mahvra celinda! Come to me, my Keys!"
For a moment, Relena's slim form was outlined by a pair of glittering white angel wings and behind her, Heero could have sworn that he saw a group of individuals, strange and unique, all called from their different worlds by the power of the woman he loved. Then the ball of light exploded outward and the images were lost. A huge tidal wave of blindingly white power spread away from Relena in huge ripples. The empress gave an exultant cry as the first one washed over her but after a moment, a surprised look flitted across her face and began to scream in torment, as if her soul was being ripped out of her. The scream howled through the air as the power crackled around Relena and Heero came to her, wrapping his cloak around her to protect her from what she called forth. A high pitched explosion sounded close by and the pale world cracked and went dark.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Quatre headed quickly towards the outer levels of the ship. He had gotten all the surviving humans off and had dealt accordingly with the A'rateken. Things were ready where he was standing and he could only hope things had gone as well with the others. He only had to give the word to Sally and his mission would be complete.
He stopped before exiting the ship to take a look at the explosives Sally had rigged. They were put in place and she carried the detonator that would set them off once he had given the word. Everything was right.
"What do you think you are doing?"
Quatre was suddenly tackled from behind, the air rushing out of his lungs from the blow. He was then abruptly hauled to his feet by an A'rateken guard who glared at him while sneaking glances at the bomb.
"What are you doing here, rebel scum?" He hissed, his slanted eyes flashing. He pulled his sword from its sheath and slid it against Quatre's neck. The ex-pilot had no time to react as another sword blade suddenly appeared in the guard's chest, a pool of red immediantly spreading from the wound. The A'rateken fell and Quatre quickly freed himself from the deam man's grip. He turned to face his rescuer only to find Dorothy running towards him.
"What...?" He started, but Dorothy went past him to draw her sword from the body which had collapsed on top of the bomb. Apprehension filled Quatre as he bent down and moved the dead guard to see if his fall had damaged the explosives. His quick eyes found the problem and he quickly tapped his communicator.
"Sally, I think we've got a problem."
"What is it, Quatre?"
"The bomb's been damaged. I think the homing beacon has been broken."
Sally and Wufei had but a homing beacon on the bomb which would act as a target when Wufei fired a pair of missiles from the high ridge close to the city. The missiles would explode on impact, causing the bombs to explode and the whole place to go up in smoke. Nothing could survive, the A'rateken must be wiped out forever. That was how it was planned, but now...
"Quatre, if we don't have the homing beacon we can't fire the missiles, and the explosives don't have enough power to destroy all the ships alone. Can you fix it?"
He peered at the wires intently, touching one lightly with his fingers. Dorothy watched him silently. " I think so."
He leaned over the bomb, touching various wire until he got an answer.
By holding the wire in place, he got the beacon to flash again, emitting its tracking signal.
"It's working." Dorothy stated flatly and he nodded once.
"If I hold it in place it will work." He said, softly. Dorothy suddenly moved, pushing him harshly away from the explosives, her eyes flashing with anger.
"What do you think you are doing, Quatre?" She said, practically bristling. "Do you think you can just die with no qualms? There are people who need you, Quatre. Rena and the others. Your the backbone, the mind, without you they would be lost."
He hesitated. "What are you saying, Dorothy?
Instead of answering, she reached down and held the beacon in place, causing the light to flash again, steadily. He felt himself go cold all over.
"Dorothy, I can't let you. You may have chosen the wrong side but I can't let you die for a cause your not sure of. Come away, we'll figure something out."
"Quatre," She said, quietly. "You may think that I betrayed you, but I do have my reasons. War calls me, as it always has, but I never gave up hope that you and the others would suceed, though I thought it unlikely. This is the only way. I am warrior, and I want to die a warrior's death. Let me do this, Quatre. I know in my heart this is right."
There were no words. Even after all these years he still thought of her as a friend and his heart was screaming to haul her away as fast as he could. But his mind understood what she was saying. This was who she was and he knew he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it.
"Go, Quatre, let me do this for everyone who wishes for liberation."
He closed his eyes and tapped his communicator.
"Sally?"
"Yes, Quatre?"
"The ships are clear."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Duo raced through the empty corridors of the Sank palace, searching wildly for Heero and Rena. He knew that Hilde was in place to destroy the palace, something all of them were reluctant to do, but it would be a signal to the A'rateken that their domination was over. It had to be done.
And time was running out. He needed to find those two before the place was blown off the maps. Well, if anyone could find them, the God of Death could.
"Ready or not, here I come!"
tbc...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
whew! *takes a deep breath* okay, how was it? Good, bad, ugly? More angst and action coming up! A big thank you to all you loyal reviewers! (Nim, sweetangel, jason, jay, luvspook, padme, ayanami-chan, ducky, neekabe, jade, empress, silver, silverwing, Grrl, angelic, nightheart ) you guys are great!
*looks at Jason warily* please don't hurt me about Dorothy! She's awesome! Hey, at least she wasn't bad! *hides behind her shield* Put down the flamethrower!
Next Chapter: ...On Feathered Wings...
please review, *hugs*