Chapter Five: Need a Ride?

From the distance a large car drove closer and closer. "Hey! That looks like a car!" Quatre exclaimed.

"Let's just hope it isn't another one of your mirages," Wufei replied. Duo paid no attention and started to wave his hands in the air. The car, which was a van began to slow down in response.

"Well, looks like we might actually make it out of this mess," Trowa said.

"We aren't anywhere near home even if we get into Las Vegas," Heero answered.

"Oh Heero, don't be so pessimistic!" Duo shouted still waving his hands in the air.

"You're one to talk," Zechs grunted. The van was teal colored with brown stripes; it pulled over when it reached the group. The driver was a middle aged woman who had a maternal air about her.

"Ya boys need a ride?" she said in a rather country accent.

"Oh s.." Duo was jumping up to get into the car but Heero pulled him back down by the braid.

"Ouch! Now what the heck was that for?" Duo complained pulling his braid from Heero's grasp.

"We have to think about this," Heero said, "can we trust this lady?"

"Remember Heero, we are in a different time period, it's the good old days when people were nice and didn't try to assassinate you right on the spot," Quatre reminded Heero.

"Why don't we weigh our choices?" Trowa said, "we can either say no and keep walking knowing that we'll probably die painful slow deaths, or we can say yes and go and if she turns out to be an assassin, which is highly unlikely, we'll die quick painful deaths."

"I get the point," Heero grumbled, "but no one blame me if we end up dead."

"We probably would have ended up dead anyway," Zechs commented.

"Sure we'll take a ride, Lady," Duo answered in his most polite manner.

"I get the front seat!" Wufei shouted.
"Who says?!" Heero said.

"I'm the oldest I should get the front seat," Treize replied calmly.

"Shut up!" Wufei and Heero said and unison.

Duo only giggled and the boys turned to face him and see that he had beaten while they were fighting.

"INJUSTICE MAXWELL!" Wufei screamed.

Zechs sighed, "Will you all just get in the car already!" The boys nodded and filed in the car. The seats were a crème colored leather and quite an alternative to the rocks they had to rest on.

"Ya boys goin to a costume party?" the lady asked.

"Costume party?!" Wufei began but Quatre quickly covered his mouth.

"Yes ma'am we are going to a costume party," Quatre said, "in Las Vegas, would you mind taking us there?"

"Well, that's where I'm off to, to make my fortune!" the lady laughed a high pitch laugh and the boys were forced to cover their ears.

"What is she talking about?" Trowa whispered to Heero

"Beats me," Heero shrugged. Most of the ride was in silence except for occasional whispers between the boys. The air conditioning blasting against their red faces was quite welcoming and it took their minds off their parched tongues for a while. The van turned at a curb and a spectacular city came to view.

"Ok, boys, we're in Las Vegas," the lady said. They stared, dumbfounded; it was unlike anything that existed in the war torn future world. "So," the lady said playing with her curly red hair, "you wanna be let out here?"

"Sure," Heero said staring at the elaberate display of lights that filled the city night. Everywhere they looked there was excitement and they couldn't believe such a city existed right smack middle of a desert.

"Are you sure this isn't a mirage?" Quatre asked. No one answered him. One by one they got out of the car. "Thank you ma'am," Quatre said politely as he joined the others.

"So, where do we go now," Trowa said.
"FOOD! We go get food!" Duo shouted running towards the nearest restaurant. The inside was very elaborate; it was obviously an Arabian restaurant. The décor was of Persian rugs and jeweled swords. A young lady dressed as an Arabian princess and clad with many jewels came up to them.

"My name if Fatima! Follow my sultans to be seated!" she exclaimed.

Duo smiled, "I really think I'm gonna like it here." The boys followed obediently to a low table. Instead of chairs there were red silk cushions lined with gold. Duo quickly plopped down on to one of them and the others did as well.

"How may I serve you my lords," another young waitress dressed like the first said.

"I think we'll all stick to the kabob special," Heero said and the others nodded in unison.

"How I'd love to have some water!" Quatre exclaimed.

"I think we'd all like water," Trowa said.

"Yes, my lords, I shall bring thine meal out shortly," and with that the lady went off. The background music was exotic and the place itself just seemed like heaven. The meal was brought out shortly and no one wasted any time; they just dug right in. In fact the speed of their eating caused the other customers to stare.

"What are you staring at?" Duo said between bites. Quickly, everyone went back to his or her own business. The plates were quickly emptied and scraped clean and presently the waitress returned with a bill.

"Just put it on the OZ account," Treize said casually. Zechs then realized their mistake…. they had no money for the current time period.

"Is this some sort of joke?" the waitress said angrily, "pay up or I have to get the manager!"

"Oh shoot," said Duo, "it just keeps on getting worse and worse."