Chapter 30: Rescue
Hey! Sorry it took me a while to get this chapter out. I knew what was going to happen; I just didn't have the time to get it all down. Anyway, here it is...
Heero P.O.V.
The boys walked silently along the smooth, dark floors. Heero crept along the wall, tightening his grip on the gun in his hands. The spare in his pockets rubbed against his side. Stopping at the corner, he pressed against the wall and heard the others do the same behind him. Heero slowly tilted his head and looked around the corner into yet another empty hallway.
He nodded shortly and they continued. (This place is endless. Where can they be?) Heero stopped and peered into a small room. (So many empty rooms. Did the Scouts destroy that many of those...things?) Heero frowned and turned his head slightly to see Duo quietly walk softly up next to him.
"Heero," Duo whispered. "How long 'til we find them? We've been walking forever."
Heero didn't respond but kept Duo's slower pace.
Quatre padded up behind them. "Duo's right, they could be anywhere."
"Maybe so, but we must keep walking." Wufei half-growled, moving slightly faster and pulling in front.
Trowa sighed quietly and said nothing.
After a few minutes, the hallway ended abruptly with a pair of large doors. The boys nodded silently to each other and stepped up to the door. It pushed open easily, despite its size. Slipping inside, Trowa shut it behind them and they looked towards a faint light in the center of the room.
Heero stopped short in front of it. "It's the crystal Venus spoke of." He said quietly over his shoulder.
Duo crossed his arms. "Looks like its still got its energy."
Wufei stood next to him. "Which means they didn't complete the mission."
"Maybe they did, but were caught on the way out." Quatre suggested.
"Either way, they must still be in the area." Heero cut in.
"How do we find them?" Duo frowned in the dim light.
"We make the enemy come to us." Heero lifted his gun towards the crystal.
Quatre moved quickly in front of Heero and pushed his gun down. "Heero, wait a moment. Who knows what will happen if we shoot this thing? If it explodes and wipes us out, it will give the enemy the advantage over the Scouts. They will have only Zechs to stop the mobile suits."
"There was a reason Pluto told him to stay, simply to satisfy their queen's worries." Trowa added.
"We can't let their kingdom die because we were reckless." Quatre continued. "Let's think about this before we ruin the only chance we may get to use this crystal to our advantage."
Wufei stepped up next to Heero and looked up at the crystal. "Drawing the enemy to us is not a good plan." Everyone looked at him. He crossed his arms. "Don't forget the onnas' powers. If the enemy managed to subdue them, what will they do to us?" Wufei scowled. "We are too weak to stand against them right now."
"Not exactly." Quatre quietly contradicted. "Do you remember when I asked for your weapons right before we left?" The others nodded. Quatre had taken the guns while they were preparing. "Well, Pluto said not to tell you unless we would need them, but when I took them, she installed certain...alterations in them."
Heero looked at his gun doubtfully. "What type of alterations?"
"Well, they no longer shoot bullets for one-"
Heero looked up sharply. Quatre stepped back and continued abruptly. "That is, they don't shoot ordinary bullets. She borrowed some of the palace's energy and compacted it into tiny bullets for the gun." He straightened. "These bullets, she told me, were 'everlasting' or they never run out."
Wufei took out his smaller gun and looked at it. "You asked for my katana as well. What did she do with that?"
Quatre looked at him. "Well, she did basically the same thing. She took some more of the power and installed it into the blade. She told me it would cut most things now, but she wasn't very specific about what sort of things..."
Duo shook his head rapidly. "We need to get moving again. Staying in one spot like this isn't really smart." He brushed his braid back over his shoulder and walked towards the door.
"Hn." Heero followed him. Once they were back out in the hall, they resumed their quiet approach.
After a few minutes, Heero stopped abruptly. A clicking noise sounded down the hall. The five flattened themselves against the wall, but the clicking grew steadily louder. Someone came around the corner. Black leather reflected the dim light from above and five jaws dropped as five boys realized who it was.
Heero could have sworn he saw dots flashing before his eyes. (Relena?!)
The girl looked up at them. "Hey." She said in an unexpectedly seductive voice.
Duo emitted a small sound as he looked her over. A tight leather black mini-skirt attached to an equally tight black top that ringed her neck and cut off neatly at her shoulders. Black spike heels tapped on the floor, creating the clicking sound they had heard.
"Well?" Relena said, obviously expecting more of a reaction.
"Sluty onna...what are you wearing? And how did you get here?" Wufei hissed half-heartedly.
Relena tilted her head back and glared at him with a smile. "What, that bimbo Jupiter didn't tell you?" She looked away. "What am I calling her a bimbo for?" She smiled. "She's practically my sister now..."
Heero's head snapped towards her. Relena focused on him. "Does that surprise you?"
"Liar." Trowa said curtly before Heero could voice it.
Relena giggled. "Am I? Come on, I'll show you." She clicked into a side room and held up her hands to the wall. With her back turned, Heero inched his hand closer to his pocketed gun. "I still don't know my way around this place, so I'll just scree what they're doing." Relena said cheerfully.
Duo took a small step back from her. Quatre, visibly irritated, crossed his arms.
"Who first... Yes, Mercury should be easy to find..." Relena shifted her hands and an image appeared on the wall. Mercury was looking through a small pile of books. Suddenly, she picked up a book and smile brightly. Turning around, she tapped something into a small laptop next to her. "Yes, doing research. She seemed so fascinated with our dark energy, when we told her she could study it..." Relena trailed off, smiling.
"Well, who next?" She continued as Mercury's image faded away. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Quatre drop his arms and look away. "Ah, yes what about Laytha?" Holding up her hands again, another image appeared on the wall. This time, three people were in the picture. A woman with green hair was painting her toenails a deep green color and talking excitedly to two others. Wufei turned his back to the picture and folded his arms. Trowa's shoulders dropped as her stared. Mars and Laytha were both in chairs across from the woman, Mars blowing on her crimson nails, and Laytha carefully applying a coat of silver to hers. Both were laughing with the woman.
Relena dropped her hands and the image faded. "That reminds me..." She inspected her own nails. "I have to repaint mine. Anyway, who next?" She looked at the ceiling in thought. "Oh, why not Jupiter? Heero, pay special attention..." Relena once again lifted her hands and this time, the image appeared quickly. It was Jupiter, sitting in a sparkling green gown at a small table. Two candles were lit and the table was set for two. A man returned and sat on the opposite side of her. The man had flaming red hair and was smiling slyly at Jupiter who returned the smile. She lifted her wine glass. The man touched it to hers and they each took a sip.
Relena saw Heero's face drop for a second before he regained his mask of emotionless features. She let the image fade. "Now who are we missing? Oh, yes, Venus. I hope she doesn't mind if we take a peek..."
Another picture formed on the wall, showing a plain, gray room, with a wide bed set in the middle. Two figures lay in the bed. Tousled blonde hair lay across the pillow, and the man moved slightly, pulling his arms tighter around Venus. She didn't stir. Duo turned. He didn't want to see the two piles of clothes on either side of the bed. "No..." He whispered.
"Oh, were you two together?" Relena asked in ignorance. In the proceeding silence, she got the answer. "Oh...Well, I didn't mean to shatter anyone's ice, just show you what they've been doing for the past..." She looked up, remembering the time. "Hour."
"It's not true." Duo said shortly.
Relena frowned. "Are you calling me a liar?"
Duo turned to face her. "I guess I am."
Relena snorted. "Well, then just come with me, buddy, I'll show you just how true it is. Hope Venus doesn't mind if we pay her a visit." She marched from the room, with the boys a few steps behind her. Heero played the scene over in his head. (Could they have really betrayed us? Why?) He frowned and silently followed Relena's clicking.
They came to a small and Relena cautiously opened it. "Be quiet, they're sleeping." Relena whispered over her shoulder. She moved inside and the boys slowly followed. Duo stared in disbelief at the bed in the middle of the room. One of the figures moved and a man with black blue hair lifted his head and stared accusingly at Relena. She jerked her head at Duo, pointed at Venus, lying in the bed, and touched her heart, batting her eyes at the ceiling.
The man sneered at Duo. Duo looked away, beaten. The man snorted softly and jerked his head at the door. Relena stuck her tongue out at him and led the boys away. Once they were outside, Relena carefully closed the door.
"Well?"
"What do you mean, well?" Wufei condemned quietly.
Relena rolled her eyes. "Well, are you going to leave now, or can we put you guys on our guest list too?" Her eyes glanced at Heero. "Except for you, Heero, you get to stay here no matter what." Quick as lightning, she whipped Heero over to her and wrapped her arms around him. He tried to pull away, but she held him fast. She looked over at the others. "So, you can either go back to that little White Crystal Palace, and be eventually destroyed, or stay here and live in luxury for the rest of your lives. Hmmm. Tough decision."
The silence drew out. Soft footsteps echoed down the hall. "Relena, do not pester our guests." A man with white hair chuckled deeply.
Relena turned to him, Heero still locked in her arms. "Lord Diamond. Meet Heero." She pulled Heero's head closer to her own. Heero wrinkled his nose. "And these are those other boys in the Gundams." She waved her hand vaguely in the direction of the others.
Diamond smiled brightly. "Well, it is a pleasure. I trust Relena has not bored you all to death?" He looked around the blank faces and turned back to Relena. "Dear Relena, what did you do?"
Relena rolled her eyes. "I just showed them what the Scouts have been doing." She leaned closer to Diamond, as if sharing a secret. "I think they were in love or something..."
Diamond smiled and shook his head. "Tsk, tsk. I'm afraid Venus and Jupiter are, well, taken, but the other girls are still free if you wish to..." He trailed off with suggestion.
The following silence left what he had said unanswered. Diamond shrugged his shoulders. "So, I assume you do not wish to join our forces?" Five forceful 'no's met his question. Diamond held up his hands. "Then I guess you all must be imprisoned."
Relena suddenly stepped beside him, pulling Heero along next to her, and a band of youmas dropped down from the ceiling. Finally finding his head, Heero elbowed Relena hard in the stomach and pulled out his gun. The hall was suddenly ringing with gunfire. A ring of youmas went down and several more dropped from the ceiling.
Relena growled and kicked at Heero. Dodging her easily, he stepped back and felt something like an iron bar wrap around his neck. Looking to the side, he saw Diamond's white hair behind him, then he felt a stab in his side, and everything went black.
Isn't that a pretty little cliffy? I know this is a little short, but I need to get back to my homework before I forget. Anyway, hope you like this! R&R 'kay?!!
Hey! Sorry it took me a while to get this chapter out. I knew what was going to happen; I just didn't have the time to get it all down. Anyway, here it is...
Heero P.O.V.
The boys walked silently along the smooth, dark floors. Heero crept along the wall, tightening his grip on the gun in his hands. The spare in his pockets rubbed against his side. Stopping at the corner, he pressed against the wall and heard the others do the same behind him. Heero slowly tilted his head and looked around the corner into yet another empty hallway.
He nodded shortly and they continued. (This place is endless. Where can they be?) Heero stopped and peered into a small room. (So many empty rooms. Did the Scouts destroy that many of those...things?) Heero frowned and turned his head slightly to see Duo quietly walk softly up next to him.
"Heero," Duo whispered. "How long 'til we find them? We've been walking forever."
Heero didn't respond but kept Duo's slower pace.
Quatre padded up behind them. "Duo's right, they could be anywhere."
"Maybe so, but we must keep walking." Wufei half-growled, moving slightly faster and pulling in front.
Trowa sighed quietly and said nothing.
After a few minutes, the hallway ended abruptly with a pair of large doors. The boys nodded silently to each other and stepped up to the door. It pushed open easily, despite its size. Slipping inside, Trowa shut it behind them and they looked towards a faint light in the center of the room.
Heero stopped short in front of it. "It's the crystal Venus spoke of." He said quietly over his shoulder.
Duo crossed his arms. "Looks like its still got its energy."
Wufei stood next to him. "Which means they didn't complete the mission."
"Maybe they did, but were caught on the way out." Quatre suggested.
"Either way, they must still be in the area." Heero cut in.
"How do we find them?" Duo frowned in the dim light.
"We make the enemy come to us." Heero lifted his gun towards the crystal.
Quatre moved quickly in front of Heero and pushed his gun down. "Heero, wait a moment. Who knows what will happen if we shoot this thing? If it explodes and wipes us out, it will give the enemy the advantage over the Scouts. They will have only Zechs to stop the mobile suits."
"There was a reason Pluto told him to stay, simply to satisfy their queen's worries." Trowa added.
"We can't let their kingdom die because we were reckless." Quatre continued. "Let's think about this before we ruin the only chance we may get to use this crystal to our advantage."
Wufei stepped up next to Heero and looked up at the crystal. "Drawing the enemy to us is not a good plan." Everyone looked at him. He crossed his arms. "Don't forget the onnas' powers. If the enemy managed to subdue them, what will they do to us?" Wufei scowled. "We are too weak to stand against them right now."
"Not exactly." Quatre quietly contradicted. "Do you remember when I asked for your weapons right before we left?" The others nodded. Quatre had taken the guns while they were preparing. "Well, Pluto said not to tell you unless we would need them, but when I took them, she installed certain...alterations in them."
Heero looked at his gun doubtfully. "What type of alterations?"
"Well, they no longer shoot bullets for one-"
Heero looked up sharply. Quatre stepped back and continued abruptly. "That is, they don't shoot ordinary bullets. She borrowed some of the palace's energy and compacted it into tiny bullets for the gun." He straightened. "These bullets, she told me, were 'everlasting' or they never run out."
Wufei took out his smaller gun and looked at it. "You asked for my katana as well. What did she do with that?"
Quatre looked at him. "Well, she did basically the same thing. She took some more of the power and installed it into the blade. She told me it would cut most things now, but she wasn't very specific about what sort of things..."
Duo shook his head rapidly. "We need to get moving again. Staying in one spot like this isn't really smart." He brushed his braid back over his shoulder and walked towards the door.
"Hn." Heero followed him. Once they were back out in the hall, they resumed their quiet approach.
After a few minutes, Heero stopped abruptly. A clicking noise sounded down the hall. The five flattened themselves against the wall, but the clicking grew steadily louder. Someone came around the corner. Black leather reflected the dim light from above and five jaws dropped as five boys realized who it was.
Heero could have sworn he saw dots flashing before his eyes. (Relena?!)
The girl looked up at them. "Hey." She said in an unexpectedly seductive voice.
Duo emitted a small sound as he looked her over. A tight leather black mini-skirt attached to an equally tight black top that ringed her neck and cut off neatly at her shoulders. Black spike heels tapped on the floor, creating the clicking sound they had heard.
"Well?" Relena said, obviously expecting more of a reaction.
"Sluty onna...what are you wearing? And how did you get here?" Wufei hissed half-heartedly.
Relena tilted her head back and glared at him with a smile. "What, that bimbo Jupiter didn't tell you?" She looked away. "What am I calling her a bimbo for?" She smiled. "She's practically my sister now..."
Heero's head snapped towards her. Relena focused on him. "Does that surprise you?"
"Liar." Trowa said curtly before Heero could voice it.
Relena giggled. "Am I? Come on, I'll show you." She clicked into a side room and held up her hands to the wall. With her back turned, Heero inched his hand closer to his pocketed gun. "I still don't know my way around this place, so I'll just scree what they're doing." Relena said cheerfully.
Duo took a small step back from her. Quatre, visibly irritated, crossed his arms.
"Who first... Yes, Mercury should be easy to find..." Relena shifted her hands and an image appeared on the wall. Mercury was looking through a small pile of books. Suddenly, she picked up a book and smile brightly. Turning around, she tapped something into a small laptop next to her. "Yes, doing research. She seemed so fascinated with our dark energy, when we told her she could study it..." Relena trailed off, smiling.
"Well, who next?" She continued as Mercury's image faded away. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Quatre drop his arms and look away. "Ah, yes what about Laytha?" Holding up her hands again, another image appeared on the wall. This time, three people were in the picture. A woman with green hair was painting her toenails a deep green color and talking excitedly to two others. Wufei turned his back to the picture and folded his arms. Trowa's shoulders dropped as her stared. Mars and Laytha were both in chairs across from the woman, Mars blowing on her crimson nails, and Laytha carefully applying a coat of silver to hers. Both were laughing with the woman.
Relena dropped her hands and the image faded. "That reminds me..." She inspected her own nails. "I have to repaint mine. Anyway, who next?" She looked at the ceiling in thought. "Oh, why not Jupiter? Heero, pay special attention..." Relena once again lifted her hands and this time, the image appeared quickly. It was Jupiter, sitting in a sparkling green gown at a small table. Two candles were lit and the table was set for two. A man returned and sat on the opposite side of her. The man had flaming red hair and was smiling slyly at Jupiter who returned the smile. She lifted her wine glass. The man touched it to hers and they each took a sip.
Relena saw Heero's face drop for a second before he regained his mask of emotionless features. She let the image fade. "Now who are we missing? Oh, yes, Venus. I hope she doesn't mind if we take a peek..."
Another picture formed on the wall, showing a plain, gray room, with a wide bed set in the middle. Two figures lay in the bed. Tousled blonde hair lay across the pillow, and the man moved slightly, pulling his arms tighter around Venus. She didn't stir. Duo turned. He didn't want to see the two piles of clothes on either side of the bed. "No..." He whispered.
"Oh, were you two together?" Relena asked in ignorance. In the proceeding silence, she got the answer. "Oh...Well, I didn't mean to shatter anyone's ice, just show you what they've been doing for the past..." She looked up, remembering the time. "Hour."
"It's not true." Duo said shortly.
Relena frowned. "Are you calling me a liar?"
Duo turned to face her. "I guess I am."
Relena snorted. "Well, then just come with me, buddy, I'll show you just how true it is. Hope Venus doesn't mind if we pay her a visit." She marched from the room, with the boys a few steps behind her. Heero played the scene over in his head. (Could they have really betrayed us? Why?) He frowned and silently followed Relena's clicking.
They came to a small and Relena cautiously opened it. "Be quiet, they're sleeping." Relena whispered over her shoulder. She moved inside and the boys slowly followed. Duo stared in disbelief at the bed in the middle of the room. One of the figures moved and a man with black blue hair lifted his head and stared accusingly at Relena. She jerked her head at Duo, pointed at Venus, lying in the bed, and touched her heart, batting her eyes at the ceiling.
The man sneered at Duo. Duo looked away, beaten. The man snorted softly and jerked his head at the door. Relena stuck her tongue out at him and led the boys away. Once they were outside, Relena carefully closed the door.
"Well?"
"What do you mean, well?" Wufei condemned quietly.
Relena rolled her eyes. "Well, are you going to leave now, or can we put you guys on our guest list too?" Her eyes glanced at Heero. "Except for you, Heero, you get to stay here no matter what." Quick as lightning, she whipped Heero over to her and wrapped her arms around him. He tried to pull away, but she held him fast. She looked over at the others. "So, you can either go back to that little White Crystal Palace, and be eventually destroyed, or stay here and live in luxury for the rest of your lives. Hmmm. Tough decision."
The silence drew out. Soft footsteps echoed down the hall. "Relena, do not pester our guests." A man with white hair chuckled deeply.
Relena turned to him, Heero still locked in her arms. "Lord Diamond. Meet Heero." She pulled Heero's head closer to her own. Heero wrinkled his nose. "And these are those other boys in the Gundams." She waved her hand vaguely in the direction of the others.
Diamond smiled brightly. "Well, it is a pleasure. I trust Relena has not bored you all to death?" He looked around the blank faces and turned back to Relena. "Dear Relena, what did you do?"
Relena rolled her eyes. "I just showed them what the Scouts have been doing." She leaned closer to Diamond, as if sharing a secret. "I think they were in love or something..."
Diamond smiled and shook his head. "Tsk, tsk. I'm afraid Venus and Jupiter are, well, taken, but the other girls are still free if you wish to..." He trailed off with suggestion.
The following silence left what he had said unanswered. Diamond shrugged his shoulders. "So, I assume you do not wish to join our forces?" Five forceful 'no's met his question. Diamond held up his hands. "Then I guess you all must be imprisoned."
Relena suddenly stepped beside him, pulling Heero along next to her, and a band of youmas dropped down from the ceiling. Finally finding his head, Heero elbowed Relena hard in the stomach and pulled out his gun. The hall was suddenly ringing with gunfire. A ring of youmas went down and several more dropped from the ceiling.
Relena growled and kicked at Heero. Dodging her easily, he stepped back and felt something like an iron bar wrap around his neck. Looking to the side, he saw Diamond's white hair behind him, then he felt a stab in his side, and everything went black.
Isn't that a pretty little cliffy? I know this is a little short, but I need to get back to my homework before I forget. Anyway, hope you like this! R&R 'kay?!!