A/N: To answer Rocky's question, Mercedes and Raven are trained to act with the other pilots, as a unit or individually. In other words, they are the wild cards so to speak. ^^
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Chapter One - Poke an' Shoot
The somewhat strong scent of antiseptic greeted her olfactory sense first as the others stirred. The faint beeping of a machine greeted her hearing next followed by the feel of soft sheets beneath her touch. And she finally opened her eyes; bright light seeped in making her squeeze them tightly.
"Mer, please tell me that you're up now."
She remained silent for a moment, hearting her best friend's voice, before she opened her eyes gradually, allowing them to become used to the harsh whiteness. "Ra…ra…" she croaked out faintly as her throat started to protest audibly.
"Don't talk. The doctor says your vocal chords have pretty much gone. She says it should take about half a year for them to heal completely."
Mercedes eyes bugged out of her head as she stared at the brunette in the seat beside her bed. 'I can't talk at all?! Damn it.'
Don't worry, you remember sign language right?" Raven pointed to herself with a huge grin. "But if you forgot, I know the entire alphabet."
She rolled her eyes at that flopping back into the bed and covering her face with a pillow. 'This is hopeless!'
"Oh come on, it's not that bad." Raven leaned in close. "Besides, we have to get out of here in a few hours."
Mercedes gave her a puzzled look with an arched eyebrow as she mouthed the word 'why'.
"We've been activated. We're supposed to rendezvous in three days in a safe house."
Mercedes sat there for a moment, recalling the gestures for the letters and phrases. "How far away is the house?" her hands flew around in rapid movements. "And just who are we rendezvousing with?"
Raven laughed somewhat. "The house is about a few hours from here. I figured we go early and get some rest."
Mercedes gave a nervous sort of smile before she swung her feet out from underneath the blankets. "Clothes?" she gestured, looking around.
"Right here, along with your school bag." Raven hauled up the fairly weighty bag. "Don't take too long now."
Mercedes nodded before a thought struck her. "Did you run away again?"
"What do you think?" Raven said in a somewhat disgusted voice. "Get changed and so we can get out of here."
Feeling somewhat hurt at the abruptness of her response, Mercedes ducked into the bathroom and whipped off the hospital gown. She winced slightly as parts of her ached with pain. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, the ugly purple bruises, angry welts and blisters seemed more repulsive. She dimmed the light, rooting around in her bag and finding the clothing. She pulled the shirt and pants on easily enough before she slipped back out.
"I wasn't able to find you shoes." Raven said in an apologetic tone as she walked over to the door.
Mercedes brushed it aside, sticking her head out the doorway to see an empty hall. She eased on down to the stairwell, the frigid air rushing up to hit her in the face. She started down at the insistent push on her shoulder, toes curling against the icy floor. Ignoring the discomfort, she hurried down the flights until Raven grabbed her arm and pulled her into an alcove suddenly. Mercedes gave a tiny cry of protest before she shut up; Raven may have inadvertently grabbed onto a bruise but there had to be-
"Where could that girl be? It's not like we let patients go walking around at this hour of the night." the man's voice sounded concerned.
"Don't worry Sir. I'm sure she was just feeling a bit independent. She is a teenager after all."
Mercedes looked up, seeing the silhouettes moving along the wall before they disappeared through the door on the floor above them.
"Come on. The train I got tickets for leaves in an hour."
'Train? Just how far is this place? Is it out in the sticks?' Mercedes ran after Raven, the warm summer air brushing against her skin once they made it outside.
"Are you hungry or anything? I had the doctor give me a planned food regime for you."
"What can I have now?" she asked.
"Mostly liquid stuff. Like puréed pears or applesauce."
Mercedes gave a frown before she shook her head.
"You don't want that? I'll get you a bottle of water then." Raven said. "Maybe I should get a car or something. Your feet must be killing you."
Mercedes shook her head and continued walking steadily on. Her feet did kill but it didn't make sense to risk the exposure when the train station was only a few blocks away. When they finally arrived, they found the people boarding the cars. She did her best to look pitiful as Raven gave a cover story to the conductor as to why Mercedes had no shoes.
"Almost thought that wouldn't work." Raven said with relief as they made their way down to their private cabin. "Thirsty?"
Mercedes shook her head as the train gave a whistle and a lurch forward, gazing out the window. "I can wait a bit." she gestured before stretching out in her seat. "How did you know the doctor was there?"
"Maybe if you weren't so preoccupied, you would realize that their footsteps were coming down the stairs. You can't be doing stuff like that when we get suited up you know."
Mercedes didn't respond, simply watching as the city started to thin out to fields of grass and trees. 'Suited up…I can't even-' She sighed and closed her eyes, not wanting to think about it. Now all she wanted was sleep and lose herself in the oblivion once again.
"Come on Mer, you have to eat something. Have a sip at least."
Mercedes gave Raven a nasty look before turning her nose up at it.
"Jeez, you're gonna starve to death before we meet whomever we're supposed to? Aren't you the least bit curious as to who we're meeting, why and what they look like?"
Mercedes shook her head before she stomped off into the living room
From the moment they arrived in the rustic country house, the most she had eaten was a bit of water and some very soft bread, in accordance with the diet. 'Stupid diet, I can't even eat a slice of pizza. That damn doctor decided to starve me out.' She flopped down onto the couch, staring angrily at the blank TV screen.
"Mercedes, come on. This isn't like you. You have to eat something. These people are coming by in the evening you know."
She looked up at Raven before she gave a clearly callous shrug and turned back to her intent staring.
"If he was here you wouldn't be acting like this." Raven sighed as she sat beside her. "Why won't you tell me what's really wrong?"
"It's not important at the moment. He's is the one who has us here now." she said quickly before she folded her hands back in her lap.
"I know but this is weird even for you. What happened when your house was hit? Were your parents still in it?"
Mercedes remained silent for a few minutes. "I don't know." she motioned slowly.
Raven fell into muttered curses, wondering how she could overlook something so obvious. "Well do you think they're dead?"
"I-I honestly don't-"
She stopped hearing a creaking sound come from the front door. She glanced over at Raven who had her gun out and was inching towards the doorway jamb silently. Mercedes rose slowly, looking for a weapon that she could defend herself with. Spying the poker by the fireplace, she took it and made her way to Raven's side. Raven held up five fingers before she made a spreading motion. Nodding her head, she tightened her grip on the poker; five intruders and they had to hit hard and fast.
"Hey…this is a nice house here…"
"Be quiet Maxwell. Your loud prattling could wake-"
The harsh words were cut off as they burst out from behind the wall, Raven screaming her head off. The five people jumped back, startled. The three brown haired ones had drawn their guns; the sloe-eyed one had a sword out and the lone blond one looked as if a truck had run him over.
Mercedes looked around at the situation as neither made a move to lower their weapons. Slowly, she lowered the poker before she gave them an inquisitive look.
"What wrong with her? Can't she talk?"
Mercedes glared down at the longhaired brunette before she started to play with the poker.
"She just lost her voice. Normally she doesn't shut up." Raven said standing up. "Are you the ones we're supposed to meet here?"
"We're supposed to meet the pilots here. I'm sure that's not you two," the one holding the sword said in a disdainful voice.
"And what makes you so sure of that?"
"You're women." he said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Raven was about to answer when Mercedes cleared her throat, calling their attention towards her. She looked at them all before looking at the guy and promptly giving him the finger. Two of the others started snickering, trying their best to not laugh out loud.
"Wufei, I kept telling you, you would get that one day," the longhaired one said, somehow, in a straight voice.
"Shut up Maxwell." Wufei said somewhat harshly.
"Yeah, well guess what?" Raven said with something close to a smirk. "Meet your new comrades."